Mission Statement
The Victorian Harness Racing Trainers & Drivers Association is a non-profit kindred body whose purpose:
Ballot Points
There is considerable misinformation about the Associations policy on ballot points. The various changes in the way ballot points are allocated was a recommendation from your Association.
The facts are:
“Ballot points will revert to replacing the worst run in the past five starts to ensure no horse is stuck in the system – effective date September 1”
“Ballot points will revert to the previous method of crediting horses with five ballot points (for each ballot) regardless of whether the particular horses total point score will increase or decrease.”
Conditions on Races
The Association policy is that the majority of races should be drawn as RBD or PBD/C, PBD/M.
We are not in favour of the use of PBD/FSP, PBD/$L6.
Driver Splits
The Association believes that there should be Driver Splits.
We are concerned that the perception is that everyone is a crook. To suggest that trainers manipulate their draws by nominating a Gath, Alford, Caldow, Lang or Douglas on a horse just to avoid another horse is insulting to the trainers of this industry.
The argument that we have an obligation to the owner, trainer and punting public is very valid one, as we do want to instill confidence in them. Punters wish to see the same driver driving the horse often. Owners and trainers don’t get many chances to make a prestigious race such as a Derby or Sires, Breeders Crown final and wish to have the driver who regularly drives that horse, driving to give it every opportunity to make the final. Drivers make the decision of which horse to drive in a final when they see how a horse has performed in a heat and its draw in the final.
Drivers Declaration when Suspended
The Association policy is that an option should be available for the driver to decide whether or not they wish to fulfil any engagements for a meeting where declarations for drivers have closed.
The issue of dress code was brought up in particular with regard Moonee Valley metropolitan meetings. The Association has noticed a distinct downgrading in the dress code of a number of trainers and strappers at these meetings.
We advised HRV that we support its push on dress code and that stewards to pull aside trainers that appear in the parade ring or at presentations inappropriately dressed. We do not abdicate fining but if a trainer continues to dress in appropriately we are willing to assist HRV in reminding them of their requirements in regard dress code.
We are not saying that a suit and tie is required, just that neat and tidy casual attire should be maintained. Trainers or strappers with dirty or torn pants and shirts, which appear to not be as a result of attending horses on that night, should be frowned upon.
We do not believe this should only apply to Licence holders, at times many owners attire when required for presentations is totally unacceptable, as they on most occasions do not have to deal with attending horses. We believe that HRV should make a stance in this area and do not make a presentation if the owner is not appropriately dressed.
The Association policy on Feature Races can be broken down into three categories:
Group Racing
This is obviously your Victoria Cup, Derby, Oaks, Super Sires and some Country Cups etc. We believe as is the case in the thoroughbred code there is no concession claims in these races. As well these events, should as a matter of principle, when starting from the mobile, be random barrier draws (RBD).
Listed Features
These are some of the smaller Country Cups, Moonee Valley Features for both pacers and trotters. As with Group Racing we are of the opinion that there should be no claims and when starting from the mobile, all barrier draws be RBD.
Other Special Features
In this category we would place races such as the Tontine, Carlton Draught at Mildura and so on. Where three or more classes are combined to start from the mobile then:
E.g. Tontine series (C2-C4), a C5 mare cannot claim into the event or a C5 using a driver’s concession claim.
E.g. Tontine series (C2-C4), a C3 mare or C3 with a concession driver cannot claim in the event and be treated as a C2 in the barrier draw.
We also believe all Feature Races should be concession claim free, and virtually preferential draw free. The only preferential barrier draw used should be on PBC.
Field Sizes
The Association does not believe uniform field sizes has anything to do with the confidence of the punters but does agree that increasing field sizes in the country to 11 plus one emergency is a step in the right direction.
We did not see the need to reduce the metropolitan field limits as every owner and trainer strives to first get a horse good enough to reach metropolitan level and we should be encouraging and supporting that.
Stewards were looking at introducing a policy with regard horses breaking during the running of a race. They put forward their policy and we provided views on the policy. The Association agreed to the policy as advertised in the Harness Racer.
Junior Driver Selection Process
The Association believes that the selection of the Victorian representative for the Junior Driver championship should be a race series as was in the past to give a number of juniors the opportunity to compete.
If this was not to be the case, and the representative to be selected, then we recommend a panel of three stewards and three senior drivers from the Association should select the representative.
This would stop any perceived bias when selected purely by the stewards.
Drivers Fees
The Association has an agreement with HRV that in the case of a late scratching of a horse, whether by vet advice, float breakdown or starter error, the driver receives their driver's fee.
Trainers/Owners
The Association has recommended to HRV that a horse which is deemed a late scratching from a race by stewards when it may be denied a fair star should be compensated.
Currently if a race is declared a no race, a meeting or races on a meeting abandoned, then the trainer receives (for want of a better description) a travel subsidy to offset the cost of fuel and charge to be incurred by owners.
In the case of a late scratching for being denied a fair start due to starter error, the trainers should receive the standard $100.00 to offset travel costs. The owner will still have to be charged for something that was a mistake, which was out of their control.
The Association is not opposed to the mares’ concession perse. We are concerned that there is a misconception that mares and fillies don’t get a fair go. They have separate divisions for the same amount of money in futurity racing and mares only races and preferential barrier draw on sex used more and more in races.
We do believe that we cannot discriminate against colts and geldings all the time.
From our regional meetings over the past couple of years we have found that the biggest problem members have is not the lack of opportunities for mares, but when programming mare’s races there appear to be a lack of co-ordination by class or region.
When mares drop back a class this should be in no more than two combined class races. We do not believe that mares should be allowed to drop back in multiple class races and the mares’ concession rules should be the same as the concession driver claims.
Melton Project
The Association fully supports the HRV in the Melton Project believing this is an important project for the future of harness racing. We see this as being the metropolitan track of the future and believe that whether the entire infrastructure is built initially is not important as long as the plans are designed to include this infrastructure on an ongoing basis. What we do consider important is that we show foresight and build for the future a 1400 metre track.
Metropolitan Racing
The Association policy is and has put forward a recommendation to limit the number of $8,000 races programmed for M0 horses as we are not moving these horses through the classes. It was recommended that more M0 penalty races could be run as well as single front metropolitan fronts to get horses through and eventually create a true FFA class.
We believe that $8,000 heats into $20,000 finals for M0 should be limited and in fact should be replaced with $15,000 heats into $20,000 finals. This would assist more horses moving through to M1.
Due to FFA ranks being depleted at present, and many FFA's having to be deleted or run with small fields, the Association suggested that to ensure our FFA horses get the valuable race fitness that is needed, HRV introduces and advertises a policy as follows:
In the event of a fast class event being deleted, HRV reserves the right to program an invitation race for the same amount of stakemoney, where the distribution of stakes may be altered (eg: 60 %, 9 %, 4%, all others 2%).
The Association has proposed a 'Rotational Metropolitan Program', click here to view suggested program.
All Licence holders will again need to complete an Occupational Health and Safety/Workplace Bullying Program before they will receive their Licence for the 2005/2006 season.
Last year this caused problems for those Licence holders, who did not have Internet access. The Association has again taken a pro-active step to assist those Licence holders who may have difficulty in gaining access to the program via the internet as we need all participants to renew their Licence this season, do not want to see people drop out of the industry, just because they can not complete the course.
To assist participants, the Association upon request, will post a hard copy of the course to those who do not have the internet and then assist them gaining internet access to complete the course requirement. For those Licence holders who paid their membership for the current season there will be no charge for this service, but for non members a $10.00 fee will be charged to cover copying, postage and internet expenses.
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Redistribution Of Stakes
The Association put forward a number of options such as float rebates, fuel cards and redistribution of Stakes.
We believe that HRV needs to redistribute stakes on an interim basis to assist all owners as well as outlying Clubs to maintain full fields and maximise betting turnover.
The Association proposal is that from January 1 2006 HRV redistribute stakes on the following basis 67% 13% 9% 4% and 1% to all other runners. This would assist all owners’ will the costs of travelling since a 33% increase in fuel prices has occurred since January 2005.
Sectional Times
The Association believes sectional times interfere with what a driver’s job, that is, drive the race to achieve the best possible position.
The majority of horses cannot run 64 seconds for the first half of the last mile after expelling energy out of the mobile or from the stand start to gain the best possible position in a the run, then still get home to try and win the race.
In races less than 1710m races having a maximum of 32-second quarters takes no cognisance of the energy expelled in the start of a race to gain a favourable position or consideration of the lead-time.
Implementing these on 3YO’s takes no account of early 3YO races versus end of season 3YO races when a horse has matured, the varying ability of young horses and the physical maturity of a young horse who should not be over taxed.
We fully support R0 races at TAB meetings, R type races as heats into finals but putting sectional times on these horses that is the same as a FFA horse does not recognize that these horses are picked from the bottom up and as such have the poorer form, which proves in many cases they do not have the ability to run as well as those horses in the same class who are in the higher points range. These horses are going to find it harder than others of that class to run the same sectional time and be competitive.
We commend the withdrawal for T0 trotters to run a sectional time; however do not agree with dropping of the distance requirement for trotters. Many trotters races are programmed over a distance further than the 2400m and the lower class trotters can not run a 65 second first half over that distance and be competitive at the end of the race. Trotters race unhoppled and must be balanced in the run and by pushing them to run a time over a long distance, could lead to more trotters breaking under pressure near the finish of the race.
Sectional Time Penalties
The Association does not agree with the proposed escalation of fees for infringements over sectional times. It is very difficult to judge within 0.1 of a second the speed of a horse and if you get this wrong more than once a month it will cost drivers who are only trying to win the race for the owner, trainer and the punting public who have supported that particular horse.
What must be considered is each horse is different in its size, ability and stride. Fines bear no resemblance to losing drivers fees and professional drivers may drive between 40 and 100 times in a month and for 0.1 of a second error in judgement on four separate occasions incurs a week suspension.
An analysis of sectional infringements is available, click here for viewing.
The Association does not agree with sprint lanes. We feel combined with sectional times this gives an unfair advantage to horses on the fence behind the leader. It takes away from the drivers ability to give their horse every possible chance.
Trials
The Association is against Owners paying a scratching fee if horses did not make it to the trials for whatever reason.
The Association believes that it is about time that a Drivers Fee of $10.00 for trials should be introduced, particularly if the driver is not the registered trainer.
The Association is against closing of racetracks to track work 24 hours prior to the meeting.
Trotters Education/Qualifying Series
The Association put forward some amendments to the Trotters Education Series whereby horses should be able to compete if they are not qualified and qualify in these events. WE believe there should be no betting by bookmakers on these events.
The Association proposes that specific trial dates and venues be set where 2YO trotters can compete against others of the same group when trying to qualify.
Vests
The Association believes we need to search world wide for better more flexible and lighter weight vests.
We believe that world standard vests used throughout USA and Europe that are BETA 2000 or SATRA approved should be able to be used in conjunction with those already approved by the AHRC.
HRV was advised that although the Association understands that the HRV Board had been empowered by the Government to make decisions to ensure the financial viability of the industry, that the Executive committee believes that such important issues that are contained in the V3 document should be put to all our members for comment before a final VTDA policy or statement on the V3 document could be made.
Whips
The Association put forward a detailed document on the use of whips showing that 87% of the fines incurred were on horses, which were fighting out a for stakemoney position.
The Association believes steward’s discretion should be given in the last 20 metres of an event.
An analysis of fines for whip use is available, click here for viewing.
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