Australian Harness Racing Rules 147-150

Required Racing Standard
 

Please Note:   All forms mentioned in the Rules are available from State Controlling Bodies. 

Please Note:  On 1st March 2008 Harness Racing Australia Inc (HRA) replaced Australian Harness Racing Council Inc (AHRC) as the organisation's name.  All AHRC's formal structures, rules, regulations, policies, processes etc., now pertain to HRA, and any reference to Australian Harness Racing Council Inc, AHRC, Council or The Council shall mean Harness Racing Australia Inc or HRA.
 

Racing on merits

147.  (1)  A driver shall race a horse on its merits.

(2)  Action or non action by a driver during the course of a race which prevents or impedes the horse driven by that driver from racing on its merits shall be sufficient to establish non compliance with sub rule (1).

(3)  Sub rule (2) does not preclude non compliance being established by other means.

(4)  A driver who fails to comply with sub rule (1) is guilty of an offence.

148.  (1)  A person shall not direct, coerce, persuade, or assist a driver to race a horse otherwise than on its merits.

(2)  A person who fails to comply with sub rule (1) is guilty of an offence.

Race to win or for best position

149.  (1)  A driver shall take all reasonable and permissible measures during the course of a race to ensure that the horse driven by that driver is given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing in the field.

(2)  A person shall not drive in a manner which in the opinion of the Stewards is unacceptable. 

(3)  A person who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) or (2) is guilty of an offence. 

(4)  The connections of a horse shall not give a direction or instruction to the driver of a horse if in the opinion of the Stewards that direction or instruction may prevent the driver from giving the horse full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing.

(5)  A person who fails to comply with sub-rule (4) is guilty of an offence. 

(6)  If a driver receives a direction or instruction that infringes sub-rule (4) he shall prior to the race notify the Stewards. 

(7)  A driver who fails to comply with sub-rule (6) is guilty of an offence.

Charges

150.  (1)  Charges may be laid under rules 147 and 149 arising out of the same circumstances.

(2)  If an offence is established under each rule penalties may be imposed in respect of each offence.

(3)  Where penalties are imposed in respect of each offence the penalty imposed in respect of breach of rule 149 (1) shall be suspended pending the decision on any appeal.

(4)  Subject to orders made on appeal, the suspension of a penalty occurring under sub-rule (3) shall become permanent where an appeal against conviction under rule 147 is dismissed or abandoned.

(5)  Subject to orders made on appeal, the suspension of a penalty occurring under sub-rule (3) is removed where an appeal relating to conviction under rule 147 is successful.

 
PLEASE NOTE:
Rules Effective from 1st September 1999 (State Controlling Bodies must adopt)
Rules Approved - 16th March 1999 (AHRC Meeting)
 

back to top