MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED MIDNIGHT THURSDAY 31 JANUARY
NEW REGIME OF MINIMUM PENALTIES
The Australian Racing Board has today announced minimum penalties for integrity offences having initiated a review at its Board meeting on 22 November, 2012.
“The new regime of uniform penalties will ensure consistency of penalties across all State and Territory jurisdictions and act as a strong deterrent to potential wrongdoers,” Chief Executive Peter McGauran said today.
“Penalties are an essential element in deterring cheats and maintaining public confidence. The penalties announced send the strongest and clearest signal yet to offenders that they will pay a heavy price for cheating the system. This is especially the case for repeat offenders who have no place in the industry. Whilst first time offenders will suffer a heavy enough penalty as it is, repeat offenders will face penalties in excess of the minimum in keeping with the intent of the rules.” Mr McGauran said.
The new penalties will act in tandem with the drug testing, surveillance and intelligence gathering initiatives of racing authorities.
“Racing laboratories test for thousands of drugs using advanced screening techniques and random stable inspections by stewards are a matter of course,” Mr McGauran said.
“Racing spends tens of millions of dollars a year on integrity measures to maintain the confidence of punters and stakeholders in fair and transparent racing. Integrity is the cornerstone on which racing is built and is the foremost priority for racing authorities.” Mr. McGauran said.
The penalties are as follows:
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Offence
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Rule
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Minimum Disqualification
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Tubing – Trainer/licensee stomach-tubing, attempting to stomach-tube, cause to be stomach-tubed or be a party to the stomach-tubing of a horse within 24 hours before the horse races.
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AR 64G (1) (a)
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12 months
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Betting – If a jockey or apprentice bets (including lays) or has an interest in a bet (including a lay bet) in a race in which he is riding.
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AR 83 (d)
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2 years
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Owning – No jockey or apprentice shall own, take a lease or have any interest in any racehorse.
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AR 84
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2 years
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Betting – Any person who has not allowed a horse to run on its merits or was a party to a horse not being allowed to run on its merits and has a lay bet or an interest in a lay bet on that horse and/or has a bet or an interest in a bet on another horse
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AR 135 (d)
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3 years
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Conduct Corrupts the Outcome of a Race – Any person, who in the opinion of stewards, engages in conduct that corrupts the outcome of a race or is intended to corrupt the outcome of a race
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AR 175 (aa)
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5 years
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Prohibited Substances – Any person who administers, or causes to be administered, to a horse any prohibited substance for the purpose of affecting the performance or behaviour of a horse or to prevent it starting in a race.
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AR 175 (h) (i)
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3 years
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Electronic Devices – Any person who uses, or attempts to use, any electric or electronic apparatus or any improper contrivance capable of affecting the performance of a horse.
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AR 175 (hh) (i)
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2 years
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Prohibited Substances in Stables – Any person who, in the opinion of stewards, administers, attempts to administer, causes to be administered or is a party to the administration of, any prohibited substance to a horse being trained by a licensed trainer or prohibited substances found in a trainers premises.
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AR 177B (6)
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2 years
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Raceday Treatment – No person without the permission of the stewards may administer or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.
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AR 178E
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6 months
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AR196(5)
Where a person is found guilty of a breach of any of the Rules above, a penalty of disqualification for a period of not less than the period specified for that Rule must be imposed unless there is a finding that a special circumstance exists whereupon the penalty may be reduced:
For the purpose of this sub-rule, a special circumstance is as stipulated by each Principal Racing Authority under its respective Local Rules.
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