72. SPECIFIC OFFENCES (PROHIBITED PRACTICES) NHRA

Rule 72.1.18(NHRA Website) abuse, swear at, mislead, intimidate, threaten or interfere with any PERSON
including any LICENSED OFFICIAL involved with the administration or the
control of racing;

Can anyone with legal training explain what this rule means? Does it extend to websites and posters like us? I wonder if I or many of the posters on the sites have been "guilty" of breaching this rule inadvertently - Can fair comment be regarded as "abuse"? What does "interfere" with mean? Can asking questions about racing admin in public be regarded as "interference" or "intimidation"? Best I stop here or I might find myself guilty of a breach.....:S

Ha ha,is this a new rule,must be getting ready for a clear out!!!

Don't think it matters.....they don't seem to bother too much with the rules!

Rob some very interesting rules on that site - makes you wonder about the legalties of many actions in racing today

Mr H ,it's something that I have been on about for ages.There are a number of rules completely ignored by authorities and I repeat my point that they must either enforce rules or delete them.
eg Jockeys can't have advertising on their attire as a general rule
Jockies cannot impart any info gleaned from riding work!!!!!!!!!
Inconsistent horses will be suspended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And so on and so on..........As I say, enforce or delete.

Rob here's one to consider - There have been many personal comments that included swearing, abuse etc , made on various sites about Racing administrators - The Web is viewed by Billions of people on a daily basis and these statements obviously damage the industry - Now I ask myself why does the NHRA not attempt to invoke this rule to protect the industry and it's reputation globally? The only conclusion I can come up with is that the NHRA are loathe to invoke this rule as it would then mean that an investigation into the allegations made would have to be conducted which would result in too many questions having to be answered - I wonder if members of Rugby, Soccer's Admin etc would allow their top brass to be abused and insulted ( alleged to have done xyz in their positions) would the authorities do nothing to halt it - makes you wonder at times if some of these allegations etc are not infact true as they are not been defended by the 'watchdog' of the industry. Very strange indeed ..... If you don't invoke all of the rules equally how can you simply invoke some when it suites you? I don't know if certain things said are true or not but I don't buy the 'sticks and stones will break my bones but WORDS will never harm me' logic. What a mess this 'game' is in

Mr H, bear in mind that it is a NHA rule,not a law.Abuse on a website would require a civil action as they cannot impose their rules/ punishment on anybody that is not under their control.In my case,I suppose the worst they could do,is withdraw my colours!(who cares)
However,I do agree that racing administration is probably loathe to be scrutinised too closely.

My point exactly Rob - why have they not tried to have the colours revoked of persons that make these allegations etc - They have a duty to do so according to their own rules - I'm sure they can do nothing to a punter but an owner, trainer etc is a different matter - There are obviously civil law and crimen injuria remedies available to the injured party if they so choose to use them.