As a result of the Supreme Court finding confirming its power to do so, Tasracing issued formal Show Cause Notices on Friday 12 April 2024 to racing industry participants named in the Murrihy Report.
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said participants named in the Murrihy report who received Notices had until Thursday this week to provide submissions as to why subsequent Warning Off Notices should not proceed.
“The Tasracing Board will convene on Friday to formally review any Show Cause submissions received,” he said.
Further, the Racing Rules & Policy Committee yesterday (15 April) agreed to a revision of the Equity in Participation Policy (EIPP) for the harness Code effective immediately.
Mr Jenkins said under the revised policy, except in specific circumstances, horses trained by a trainer or trainers at the same private training venue could not make up more than 50 per cent of starters in any race field, to a maximum of four runners.
“Importantly, the policy will provide smaller trainers with the opportunity to consistently gain access to ratings-based handicap races,” he said.
“The policy recognises the importance of providing all harness trainers with the opportunity to access races consistently and promotes enhanced competition in the harness racing Code in Tasmania.”
The policy will not apply under the following circumstances:
- Feature races with prizemoney greater than $30,000.
- Heats of feature races that have a final with prizemoney greater than $30,000.
- Races that are finals from heats.
- 2 & 3 Year Old races.