The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards advise all licensed persons that the below requirements must be met when completing a pre-race warm up:
• The brands of each horse conducting a pre-race warm up must be inspected by the Starter prior to the warm up commencing;
• A horse selected for a pre-race blood sample must not warm up prior to the sample being taken;
• A horse conducting a pre-race warm up for Race 1 shall not do so any earlier than 40 minutes prior to race start time and must be supervised by a Clerk of the Course;
• A horse shall only warm up 1 race prior to the race in which they are engaged. E.g. A horse engaged in Race 3 shall only warm up immediately prior to Race 2 and not before;
• A horse wishing to pre-race warm up shall only enter the track prior to the field engaged for that race should a Clerk of the Course be present for supervision;
• In the instance machinery is on the track horses must warm up in the same direction and a Clerk of the Course must be present for supervision;
• It is the responsibility of the driver and/or trainer of the horse conducting the pre-race warm up to ensure that a Clerk of the Course is present for supervision.
Should the above requirements not be adhered to penalties may be imposed under the provisions of Australian Harness Racing Rule 238 which states:
238. A person shall not fail to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the Controlling Body or the Stewards relating to harness racing or to the harness racing industry.
For further information regarding the above please contact the HRV Stewards Department on (03) 8378 0222.
