Tasracing will introduce its Equity in Participation (EIP) policy for the harness code on 1 July 2023.
Under the policy, except in the specific circumstances outlined below, horses trained by a single trainer (or under the effective control of a single trainer) cannot make up more than 50 per cent of starters in any race field.
The policy, which has been an agenda item at recent HIF meetings, recognises the importance of providing all harness trainers (particularly small or “hobby” trainers) with the opportunity to access races.
It is intended that the policy will provide smaller trainers with the opportunity to consistently gain access to ratings-based handicap races.
The 1 July date was identified for the policy’s introduction to allow an appropriate lead time for these smaller trainers to prepare their horses for races they elect to target.
The policy will not apply to the following circumstances:
- Feature races as defined in the Tasmanian Harness Feature Race Calendar.
- Races that are finals from heats.
- Races in which acceptances for that race will not see the maximum field size for the race achieved, in which case any remaining race field places can be filled by horses that would otherwise have been prevented from racing because of the policy’s restrictions.
A copy of the policy is available here.