6
AUSTRALIAN RULES OF RACING
The Australian Racing Board is the only authority which is empowered to set and
amend the Australian Rules of Racing which for more than a century have provided
common practices, conditions and integrity standards for thoroughbred racing
throughout Australia.
The individual State and Territory Principal Racing Authorities (PRA’s) may make Local
Rules for specific local conditions provided that they are not inconsistent with the
principles established by the Australian Rules of Racing.
Broadly described, there are nine parts to the Australian Rules of Racing:
I. INTERPRETATION
II. STEWARDS
(Providing for the appointment, functions and powers of the Stewards)
III. REGISTRATION
(Providing for the registration of race clubs and race meetings and the
appointment, functions and powers of the Registrar of Racehorses)
IV. RACE MEETINGS
(Providing uniform conditions for the conduct of race meetings including
nominations and acceptances, stakes and forfeits, weight penalties and
allowances, scratching, weighing out and weighing in, starting, running,
judging and protests)
V. LICENSING
(Providing for the licensing of jockeys, apprentice jockeys, amateur riders and
trainers, their movement between States and outside Australia, apprentices
allowances, rider safety)
VI. SYNDICATES
(Regulating the formation, conduct and termination of racing syndicates)
VII. OFFENCES
(Proscribing dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent, improper or dishonourable
actions or practices in connection with racing, including setting out the
regime relating to prohibited substances)
VIII. PENALTIES
(Providing the penalties of fines, suspension, disqualification, warning off)
IX. CONSTITUTIONAL
(Providing the structure, powers and functions of the Australian Racing
Board)
The major benefits of the Australian Rules have been:
(I) FREE TRAFFIC BETWEEN STATES.
Uniform rules allow horses, trainers and jockeys to move freely between
States.
(II) MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF DISCIPLINARY AND PROTECTIVE ACTION.
The Australian Rules provide a disciplinary code that has been
tested to the level of the Privy Council, and allow mutual recognition
of disciplinary and protective actions across the Commonwealth and
internationally.
(III) INTERNATIONAL
Racing and wagering are globalising rapidly. The Australian Rules are
recognised by international racing authorities and wagering operators.
PRINCIPAL RACING AUTHORITIES
The Australian Racing Board’s membership consists of the six State and two
Territory racing authorities, which are recognised by the Australian Rules as
Principal Racing Authorities.
The Principal Racing Authorities in each State and Territory are as follows:
New South Wales
Racing NSW
Victoria
Racing Victoria Limited
Queensland
Racing Queensland
Western Australia
Racing & Wagering Western Australia
South Australia
Thoroughbred Racing S.A. Limited
Northern Territory
Thoroughbred Racing NT
Tasmania
Tasracing Pty Ltd
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Racing Club Inc.
In discharging its responsibility for the control and supervision of thoroughbred
racing in its State or Territory each of these bodies has such functions as:
• Registering and supervising race clubs
• Licensing trainers, jockeys, bookmakers, bookmakers’ clerks and other
industry participants
• Handicapping
• Industry Marketing
• Industry Publications
• Administration of industry funding
• Appointing Stewards’ panels to apply the Rules of Racing
• Industry strategic planning
MAJOR RACING ASSOCIATIONS
Major Racing Associations are bodies that represent a number of race clubs
within a specific a region, usually a group of non-metropolitan race clubs within
a State. The Major Racing Associations in each State and Territory are as follows:
New South Wales
Provincial Racing Association of
NSW Racing NSW Country
Victoria
Country Racing Victoria Inc
Queensland
Queensland Country Racing
Committee
Western Australia
W A Provincial Racing Association
Country Racing Association of WA
South Australia
South Australian Racing Clubs Council
The roles of these bodies include:
• To provide collective representation on behalf of race clubs to Principal
Racing Authorities
• Encourage participation and provide benefits from racing for members,
owners, on-course and off-course customers, and industry participants within
their jurisdiction
• Develop relationships with other industry bodies
•Maintaining and enhance racing and training facilities
•Maintaining and enhance customer service and facilities
Australian
Thoroughbred
