New rules for jockey weights and racing frequency come into effect
Queensland Racing Integrity Commission
Independent statutory body overseeing integrity and welfare standards of QLD racing animals and industry participants.
6 November 2023
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) stewards are calling on participants to make themselves aware of recent rule changes that change the way racing is conducted. LR 64A is a new spread of jockey weights and Local Rule 129 provides stimulations around how frequent horses can start in a race in Queensland.
From early last month Local Rule 64A came into effect and provides a new spread of weights for jockeys from 54 kilos to 60 kilos. QRIC Chief Thoroughbred Steward Josh Adams said this rule will help jockeys ride in the industry for longer.
“This is a new initiative to assist those jockeys riding in handicap races these measures will create a better spread of the weights to give jockeys across the State greater opportunity with the increased top weight, particularly in regional areas where we know finding riders is becoming more difficult,” he said.
The Local Rule 129 limits the frequency of race starts for thoroughbreds, and it has always stipulated that horses can’t race more than once in one day, it now extends to racing on consecutive days without the permission of the stewards.
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The animal care measures stipulate that: ?
Mr Adams said the stewards will work with owners and trainers in regional areas where race meetings are held on consecutive days.
“We understand that in some circumstances, horses are engaged to race in regional racing on consecutive days, but we want to ensure that animal welfare is the key consideration before permission is granted,” he said.
For more information contact [email protected]
WHS Officer - Queensland Jockeys' Association, Racing & Sport Media, Thoroughbred Form Analyst.
1 年Outstanding change by QRIC with regard to horse welfare. 99% of trainers have the welfare of the horse as paramount. However, there is obviously a very small number that appear to have little concern for their horse's welfare. A trainer springs to mind that consistently backs his horses up, week in and week out, four or five runs a month is a common occurrence. Here's a recent example. This trainer, in October, ran his horse when first-up first-up after an eight month spell. The horse had no trials and had a total of three runs in 12 days. First-up beaten 24lens, four days later ran again and beaten 13lens, eight days later beaten 35lens. Only possible reason to be sending the poor horse around is possibly trying to pick up some minor prizemoney, in races that pay down to 10th. Disgraceful and obviously no consideration for the horse's welfare or jockey's for that matter.
Manager-Racing Retired at Mysore Race Club Ltd.
1 年A good rule from the point of view of the welfare of the Racehorses as well as Patrons who follow the performance of the horses. Here in India a horse can participate in only one race in a day. But, it is not stopped from running on the immediate next day. If that horse has won on the first day, in a Handicap race, since the handicaps will have already been published, it has to carry the statutory penalty of 5kgs.when running the very next day. There are instances where the runner has won carrying the statutory penalty on the second day. There is no cap on number of runs it can do in a month.