Notice to Harness Industry – Harness Stewards Twitter
23 December, 2015
Harness
Over the past 12 months RWWA Harness Stewards have been sending out information on Twitter in regards to races from Friday night Metropolitan Race Meetings to give participants and the punting public additional information with respect to expected tactics in races.
This was instituted as both a service to increase the confidence of wagering participants and also to minimise criticisms that arose when trainers had multiple runners in races and there may be some doubt as to their positioning.
Stewards have been monitoring the take up of this service which has gathered some 200 followers.
In a submission to the RWWA Integrity Assurance Committee (IAC), the eligible body representing Breeder’s, Owners, Trainer’s and Reinsman (BOTRA) raised concerns with regard to this broadcast of driving tactics citing, amongst other things;
- That the broadcast of this information was not in the best interests of harness racing
- That the broadcast of this information had a negative impact on turnover on a race
- That the broadcast of such information was akin to race fixing in that tactics are predetermined which impacts the prices
- That whilst Stewards were entitled to the information, it should not be made public
These concerns were also echoed at recent Harness Consultative Group meetings.
As Stewards rely on their own form assessments of races, this was a service to the industry and was not undertaken for the benefit of the Stewards.
Whilst there was no evidence to support that such information released on Twitter had any impact on turnover, the IAC requested the Stewards review the future continuation of this service.
As this was an initiative intended to promote confidence in harness racing by increasing the level of information available, it would appear that it has not been received in that fashion nor served the intended purpose.
The Stewards have accordingly reviewed the matter and whilst not in agreement with the concerns raised, have listened to the views of the industry and see no utility in a service that the industry does not support or consider worthwhile and have decided to cease this practice as of 1 January 2016. 2
The Stewards wish to thank those trainers who regularly were forthcoming with information when requested who supported the initiative and those that subscribed to the service.
This decision does not alter the requirements under Rule 44 for a driver or connections to notify a change of tactics if intending to adopt tactics contrary to a horse’s usual racing pattern. Such changes in tactics must be notified by the deadline for driver/gear changes for that meeting.
The onus to comply with the following rule remains and any person who fails to notify of a change of tactics pursuant to this rule may be liable to penalty.
44. Tactics
- A driver or 1 or more of the connections of a horse intending to adopt during a race tactics contrary to the horse’s usual racing pattern shall, as soon as practicable, so notify the stewards.
- The stewards may approve or disapprove the change of tactics.
- In the event of the Stewards approving a change of tactics, then in the absence of unforseen circumstances, the horse shall be driven in accordance with the approved change.
- A person who fails to comply with sub-rules 1 or 3 or changes tactics without approval given under sub-rule 2, is guilty of an offence.
- For the purposes of determining the usual racing pattern of a horse, the Stewards shall take into account the manner in which the horse has been driven at its most recent starts.
Denis Borovica – General Manager Racing Integrity
Ph: 9445 5427
denis.borovica@rwwa.com.au