INVITATION BY THE NHA FOR SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS TO THE PROPOSED RULE AMENDMENTS

PRESS RELEASE

INVITATION BY THE NHA FOR SUBMISSION OF COMMENTS TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF THE RULES

The National Horseracing Authority invites all stakeholders and members of the public for comments on proposed amendments to the Rules.

The associated proposed amendments to the Rules have been published on the NHA website and open for comment until midnight South African Standard Time (SAST) on 10 July 2024.

As a reminder, to access the proposed amendments to the Rules and to comment thereon, kindly go on to the NHA website ( www.nhra.co.za ).

On the website landing page:

Step 1:       Register or if already registered go to step 3 (Log on)

Step 2:       Confirm email (click link sent on email)

Step 3:       Log On

Step 4:       Complete Comments (to submit comments click SAVE NOW) - You may edit your submission at any time before 10 July 2024.

· No comments can be made after 10 July 2024.
·  All comments entered on the site will be considered as final on the submission date.
·  The NHA may not necessarily respond to any submission directly, but all comments will be considered by the National Board of the NHA before the finalisation of any amendments.

Enquiries

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive  

THE NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY PROPOSED RULE CHANGES
DEADLINE FOR COMMENT SUBMISSION SHALL BE 10 JULY 2024 AT 23:59 (SAST)

The words that have a strike through them are to be deleted and the words in bold and underlined are to be added:

1. DEFINITIONS
In these rules, unless the context indicates otherwise, words in capital letters listed below have the following meanings:

NEW DEFINITIONS

ALKALINISING AGENT – means any substance administered by any route that may elevate the Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) of a HORSE.

RIDE - The time period from when a RIDER weighs out to when he weighs back in.

10.5.14 CURRENT shall, accurately and legibly record or cause to be accurately and legibly recorded as a TREATMENT RECORD in a Treatment Register, preparations which contain a PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE administered and/or any veterinary treatment to any HORSE under his care. The TRAINER shall ensure that the Treatment Register is available at all times for inspection by any LICENSED OFFICIAL. Once the Treatment Register is full it shall be returned to the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY at which time a new register will be issued;
10.5.14 PROPOSED shall, accurately and legibly record or cause to be accurately and legibly recorded as a TREATMENT RECORD in a Veterinary Treatment Register, preparations which contain a PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE administered and/or any veterinary treatment to any HORSE under his care. The TRAINER shall ensure that all TREATMENT RECORDS relating to the HORSES selected for SPECIMEN collection are handed over to a the Treatment Register is available at all times for inspection by any LICENSED OFFICIAL, or declared as a TREATMENT RECORD at the time of SPECIMEN collection. Once the Veterinary Treatment Register is full it shall be returned to the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY at which time a new register will be issued;
10.5.17 CURRENT shall not have in his possession or on the premises where he trains:-
10.5.17.3 CURRENT any medicine, drug or related substance which was prescribed more than 30 days previously, is expired or remains unused from or superfluous to a previously prescribed treatment.
10.5.17 PROPOSED shall not have in his possession or on the premises where he trains:-
10.5.17.3 PROPOSED any medicine, drug or related substance which was prescribed more than 30 days previously, is expired or remains unused from or superfluous to a previously prescribed treatment.
39.7 EQUINE INFLUENZA

39.7.1 CURRENT All HORSES and all FOALS shall be vaccinated by a PERSON or veterinary surgeon against Equine Influenza both in accordance with the programme of vaccinations and with a non-expired vaccine from the recommended list as determined by the NATIONAL BOARD and as published from time to time in the RACING CALENDAR; provided that only a veterinary surgeon shall supply and administer the vaccine to all HORSES trained by, or under the care, or in the stable of a TRAINER.
39.7.1 PROPOSED All HORSES and all FOALS shall be vaccinated by a PERSON or veterinary surgeon against Equine Influenza both in accordance with the programme of vaccinations and with a non-expired vaccine from the recommended list as determined by the NATIONAL BOARD and as published from time to time in the RACING CALENDAR; provided that only a veterinary surgeon shall supply and administer the vaccine to all HORSES trained by, or under the care, or in the stable of a TRAINER.
39.7.3 CURRENT The PERSON or veterinary surgeon administering the vaccination shall record in the HORSE'S or FOAL'S PASSPORT or where a PASSPORT has not been issued, into the vaccination record form, the name of the PERSON or veterinary surgeon, the name of the HORSE or FOAL vaccinated, the date of vaccination and a description of the vaccine used. In addition, the PERSON or veterinary surgeon shall, where the vial containing the vaccine carries a detachable label, stick such label into the HORSE'S PASSPORT or into the vaccination record form, as the case may be.
39.7.3 PROPOSED The PERSON or veterinary surgeon administering the vaccination shall record in the HORSE'S or FOAL'S PASSPORT or where a PASSPORT has not been issued, into the vaccination record form, the name of the PERSON or veterinary surgeon, the name of the HORSE or FOAL vaccinated, the date of vaccination and a description of the vaccine used. In addition, the PERSON or veterinary surgeon shall, where the vial containing the vaccine carries a detachable label, stick such label into the HORSE'S PASSPORT or into the vaccination record form, as the case may be.
40. RESTRICTIONS ON RUNNING

40.6 CURRENT No MARE shall race past 120 DAYS of gestation.
40.6 PROPOSED No pregnant MARE shall race past after 120 DAYS of gestation from the date of her last cover.
NEW RULE

40.7 No MARE having delivered a live FOAL shall race for the first 240 days following the FOAL’S birthdate.
58.10 CURRENT CROPS
58.10.2 CURRENT No RIDER shall misuse a crop or use a crop in an unnecessary or excessive manner or use a crop on any part of a HORSE'S head.
58.10 PROPOSED CROPS (Read with Appendix E)
58.10.2 PROPOSED No RIDER shall misuse a crop or use a crop in an unnecessary or excessive manner or use a crop on any part of a HORSE'S head (Appendix E).
Appendix E
GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF THE CROP

3. CURRENT Keeping both hands on the reins when using the crop down the shoulder in the backhand position.
3. PROPOSED The crop SHALL not be used in front of the saddle except when both hands are on the reins when using the crop down the shoulder in the backhand position.
61.5.10 FAULTY STARTING STALLS OR INTERFERENCE BY A HANDLER

61.5.10.2 CURRENT Subject to RULE 61.5.10.3 in the event of the actions of a handler preventing a HORSE from starting in a RACE and/or resulting in a HORSE being impeded and thereby losing a significant distance when the stalls are opened, and no false start is declared, such HORSE may be deemed by the SB not to have started and the SB may declare it to have been withdrawn, provided that a horse which is ultimately declared first, second, third or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner.
61.5.10.2 PROPOSED Subject to RULE 61.5.10.3 in the event of the actions of a handler preventing a HORSE from starting in a RACE and/or resulting in a HORSE being impeded and thereby losing a significant distance, or where the HORSE is rendered RIDERLESS when the stalls are opened, and no false start is declared, or where a horse, not resultant from its own behaviour alone, has been prevented from starting on equal terms and its chances in a race have been materially affected as a consequence, such HORSE may be deemed by the SB not to have started and the SB may declare it to have been withdrawn, provided that a horse which is ultimately declared first, second, third or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner.
62. RUNNING
62.2 The RIDER of a HORSE shall:-

62.2.3 CURRENT ride his HORSE out to the end of a RACE to the satisfaction of the STIPENDIARY STEWARDS;
62.2.3 PROPOSED ride his HORSE out to the end of a RACE , where circumstances permit, to the satisfaction of the STIPENDIARY STEWARDS;
62.2.8 CURRENT The RIDER of a HORSE shall ensure that, when riding in a RACE over a straight course, he keeps to a straight course parallel to the running rail and relative to the drawn position for his HORSE until a point not less than 200 metres from the start, as indicated by a marker or, if possible, by markers on both sides of the race course, save that it shall not be an offence if the RIDER crosses behind the field and in doing so does not cause interference;
62.2.8 PROPOSED Rule 62.2.8 TO BE DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
62.2.10 CURRENT not make any celebratory gesture before his HORSE has crossed the finish line.
62.2.10 PROPOSED Rule 62.2.10 TO BE DELETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
62.2.11 CURRENT not abuse, ill-treat or mishandle a HORSE either before, during or after the running of a RACE.
62.2.11 PROPOSED not abuse, ill-treat or mishandle a HORSE either before, during or after the running of a RACE, and shall ease up their HORSES gradually after the finish of a RACE, and not pull their mounts up abruptly.
62.2.12 NEW RULE SHALL, to the extent where circumstances permit, maintain his crop during the RACE.
72. SPECIFIC OFFENCES (PROHIBITED PRACTICES)
72.1 CONTRAVENTIONS

Without in any way derogating from the provisions of the RULES, no PERSON shall:-

72.1.54 NEW RULE use or administer an ALKALINISING AGENT to a HORSE on a race day. A concentration of Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) in the blood above the threshold determined by the NATIONAL BOARD constitutes prima facie evidence of alkalinisation and/or the use or administration of an ALKALINISING AGENT.
The TRAINER and/or OWNER of a HORSE shall be guilty of an offence if a SPECIMEN taken from that HORSE:

73.2.7 CURRENT at any time contains a PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE the administration of which has not been accurately recorded as a TREATMENT RECORD in a Veterinary Treatment Register;
73.2.7 PROPOSED at any time contains a PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE the administration and/or any veterinary treatment of which has not been accurately and legibly recorded as a TREATMENT RECORD in a Veterinary Treatment Register;
75. TAKING AND ANALYSIS OF SPECIMENS
75.2 CURRENT At any time a SPECIMEN is taken, a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR shall take one or two SPECIMENS. In the event of the SPECIMEN COLLECTOR taking one SPECIMEN, he shall divide the SPECIMEN in two parts.
75.2 PROPOSED At any time a SPECIMEN is taken, a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR shall take one or two SPECIMENS except in the event of SPECIMENS collected according to the procedure for Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) ANALYSIS on race day, In the event of the SPECIMEN COLLECTOR taking one SPECIMEN, he shall divide the SPECIMEN in two parts.
91.3 EFFECTIVE DATE OF SUSPENSIONS
91.3 CURRENT Save for a suspension from acting or riding for the remainder of a day, subject to the proviso contained in RULE 81.2, a suspension of a PERSON shall be effective from the day following the day on which the PERSON concerned is advised of the suspension, save in the case of a RIDER, who is suspended in terms of RULE 91.1.1 and RULE 96.2.
91.3 PROPOSED Save for a suspension from acting or riding for the remainder of a day, subject to the proviso contained in RULE 81.2 or 91.2, a suspension of a PERSON shall be effective immediately on which the PERSON concerned is advised of the suspension, save in the case of a RIDER, who is suspended in terms of RULE 91.1.1 and RULE 96.2.
Appendix C

SPECIFIED RACING AUTHORITIES

For the purposes of RULE 91.1.2 the racing authorities of the following countries are SPECIFIED RACING AUTHORITIES. Any PERSON who has been suspended by such Authority shall be prohibited from participating in horse racing in South Africa to the extent determined by the racing authority imposing the suspension and for such period as may be prescribed in the suspension order:

Include Saudi Arabia
AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS

PLEASE NOTE THAT RULE 39.6 AND APPENDIX J AND K RELATING TO THE MOVEMENT AND VACCINATION OF HORSES AGAINST AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS WILL BE REVIEWED AND ALIGNED WITH ANY AMENDMENTS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DALLRD)

GOOD ON THEM

From Chris S

Oh, fantastic. The NHA has outdone themselves again with Rule 72.1.54. Bravo! Because what better way to address the monumental screw-up that is their TCO2 testing than by spreading guilt around like manure on a farm?

Let’s get this straight. If a horse’s TCO2 levels are above the threshold, the trainer and the owner are both guilty. Genius! Clearly, the owner, who’s probably more interested in which end of the horse eats and which end shits, is the mastermind behind the alleged alkalinising scheme. What’s next? Charging the jockey’s grandma for knitting a suspicious-looking blanket?

It’s almost poetic how they’ve managed to craft a rule so detached from logic, it could only be the brainchild of the NHA. You can almost picture them in a smoke-filled room, cackling like cartoon villains, “How do we cover up our ineptitude? I know! Let’s blame everyone!”

The level of stupidity here is so high, it’s practically an art form. Blaming the owner for a horse’s TCO2 levels is like blaming a car’s manufacturer because you got a speeding ticket. But hey, why stop there? Let’s also hold the stable boy, the farrier, and the guy who sells peanuts at the racetrack accountable. Clearly, they’re all in on it.

This rule is so brilliantly asinine, it’s a wonder they didn’t announce it with a circus parade. Instead of fixing their laughably inaccurate testing, they opt for a witch hunt. Next, they'll be hiring mediums to detect cheating through the horse’s aura.

So, Sporting Post, make sure you shine a light on this stroke of bureaucratic genius. The NHA has managed to turn a sport into a Kafkaesque nightmare where logic and fairness go to die. Rule 72.1.54—because when in doubt, blame everyone and hope no one notices how utterly clueless you are.