Racing Services

No Administration on Raceday

Trainers should be aware of HR193 (3) –

(1) A person shall not administer or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.

For the purposes of this rule, medication means any treatment with drugs or other substances; whether they are Prohibited Substances or not. Veterinary advice should be sought at all times.

There are a number of implications arising from this Rule:

• It prohibits all treatment of horses with drugs and other substances by injection, stomach tubing, oral syringe, topical application, inhalation or other means on race day prior to racing. Essentially, only normal feeding and drinking will be permitted in this period.
• Prior permission can be sought from the Stewards to permit race day treatment under special circumstances. Such permission, however, can only be sought by trainers and is on an individual case-by-case basis.

The introduction of this Rule does not remove the trainer’s responsibility to present their horses free of Prohibited Substances.

Trainers should contact the RWWA Veterinary Department or the Stewards if they have any queries about the meaning of this Rule.