NAPTHINE KEEPS RACING PORTFOLIO

Victoria’s new Premier Denis Napthine has retained the Racing portfolio in the new Victorian Ministry, announced on Wednesday. The announcement is good news for the Victorian racing industry, in light of the raft of important funding initiatives announced by Denis Napthine over the past two and a half years since he was appointed Racing Minister.

A veterinarian by profession, Denis Napthine has demonstrated a very sound understanding of Victorian racing and a genuine passion for racing. The ATA looks forward to his continuing support for Victorian racing, both as Premier and Racing Minister for the term of the present State Government.

FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN TO AUDIT TRAINERS

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has advised that an audit of up to 30 Victorian Trainers will be conducted over the next three months. The Trainers will be selected at random from the metropolitan training centres, the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, East Gippsland and South Western Victoria.

The audit will specifically focus on ensuring trainers are paying stablehands and strappers in line with minimum wage and penalty rates and complying with the necessary administrative obligations. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, the office has received numerous complaints recently relating to the underpayment of stablehands and strappers.

The ATA strongly urges trainers to contact the ATA Industrial Relations Manager Wayne Lee should they require assistance with any aspects of the Horse and Greyhound Training Award, and in particular, compliance with the minimum wage rates for staff.

MEETING WITH SAL PERNA

ATA President Colin Alderson and Chief Executive John Alducci recently met with Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna to discuss the recommendations from his report into race fixing in Victoria.

The ATA expressed concerns about the implications of the contentious recommendation to separate the Integrity functions from the racing industry and combine them with Integrity across all three codes, under a separate body, at arms length from RVL.

A final decision on this recommendation is still some time away and RVL has informed the ATA that it is preparing a detailed submission to the Racing Minister opposing the implementation of this recommendation.

2013-2014 RACE DATES

The draft race dates for the 2013/2014 season have been released, and as lobbied for by the ATA, there have been four changes for the month of December from the present racing season.

Two twilight race meetings at Bendigo and Mildura have been deleted, while the Thursday night meeting at Moonee Valley and one Saturday night meeting at Cranbourne have also been deleted.

RVL has also informed the ATA that Sandown will be closed to racing from September 2013 to late January 2014 to enable major track renovation work to be undertaken. During this period Sandown race dates will be transferred to country locations.

PUBLIC RELEASE OF INFORMATION RELATING TO TESTING

Following ATA concerns and proposed amendments to communication protocols devised by RVL for the public release of information relating to the pre and post race testing of racehorses, RVL has developed a set of revised protocols for (1) Raceday, (2) Out of Competition and (3) Stable Inspections, as follows:

1. RACEDAY
This includes pre and post-race swabs taken from horses on the day of competition including, but not limited to winners, beaten favourites and randomly selected runners. It includes pre and post-race TC02 screens conducted on and off the racecourse.

Communication Protocols
a. A list of all ‘packaged’ swabs (excluding pre-race TC02 screens) taken on track to be published in the meeting’s Stewards Report.
b. Inquiries regarding elevated TC02 confirmatory analysis is to be open to the media, unless determined by the officiating stewards to close it.
c. Details of pre-race TC02 screens to only be published in the Stewards Report if the screen is above the allowable threshold and the horse is withdrawn.

2. OUT OF COMPETITION
This includes tests undertaken at public and private training centres, agistment farms and studs not on the day of competition. These may be random or targeted based on intelligence.

Communication Protocols
a. Details of out of competition tests to be published by Racing Victoria in a Stewards Report and on its digital platforms only when;
(i) A confirmatory test is complete and a banned substance has been detected and the stable has been advised accordingly;
(ii) A breach of the Rules of Racing has been suspected/identified and an inquiry has been opened or charges laid.
b. Raceday inquiries emanating from a stable inspection to be open to the media, unless determined by the officiating stewards to close it.
c. All reasonable efforts are made by Racing Victoria to ensure the anonymity of the trainers and horses tested is protected until such time as (a)(i) or (a)(ii) occurs

3. STABLE INSPECTIONS
This includes unannounced raceday inspections of stables to ensure the Rules of Racing are being adhered to. Drug testing may accompany an inspection of facilities, veterinary logs and the bona fides of registered horses.

Communication Protocols
a. Details of a stable inspection to be published by Racing Victoria in a Stewards Report and on its digital platforms only when;
(i) A confirmatory test is complete and a banned substance has been detected and the stable has been advised accordingly;
(ii) A breach of the Rules of Racing has been suspected/identified and an inquiry has been opened or charges laid.
b. Raceday inquiries emanating from a stable inspection to be open to the media, unless determined by the officiating stewards to close it.
c. All reasonable efforts are made by Racing Victoria to ensure the anonymity of the trainers and horses tested is protected until such time as (a)(i) or (a)(ii) occurs

The ATA also sought and received an apology on behalf of Danny O’Brien from RVL for the circumstances surrounding the public release of information relating to the testing of his racehorses and its impact on his reputation. The ATA were invited to provide input into the formulation of the new communication protocols.

PRODUCT FEE AND RACEFIELDS LEGISLATION

The ATA will respond to an RVL request for submissions from stakeholders and Race Clubs on the Product Fee from wagering operators on racing, introduced as part of the Racefields legislation.

The Turnover based Product Fee paid by corporate bookmakers, betting exchanges and interstate totalisator operators has been in operation since the start of the racing season. Turnover and Product Fees paid by corporate bookmakers and betting exchanges have recorded increases and growth since the start of the racing season.