The following amendments to the Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) were approved by Harness Racing Australia on 18 July 2025 and have been adopted by HRNSW.
The date of effect for the following Rule amendments is 1 October 2025:
5. HORSES
Medical and surgical procedures
- Repeal Rule 98(1), (2), (3), (4)
98. (1) A horse which has had a limb neurectomy is ineligible to race.
(2) An owner, trainer or other person who permits a horse which has had a limb neurectomy to race is guilty of an offence.
(3) A horse which has had a tracheostomy, with or without a tracheotomy tube inserted, is ineligible to race.
(4) An owner, trainer or other person who permits a horse which has had a tracheostomy to race, is guilty of an offence.
- Add new Rule 98(1), (a), (b), (2), (3)(a), (b), (c), (4)
98. (1) (a) Limb neurectomy is a prohibited practice.
(b) A tracheostomy is a prohibited practice.
(2) A person shall not perform, attempt to perform or authorise a performance of a limb neurectomy or tracheostomy.
(3) If a horse has been subjected to either a limb neurectomy or a tracheostomy:-
(a) The owner of the horse or that owner’s authorised agent must provide written notification of that to the Stewards as soon as practicable.
(b) The horse is ineligible for any race.
(c) A person must not enter or start the horse in any race.
(4) A person who fails to comply with this Rule is guilty of an offence.
99. (1) A person shall not perform or authorise the performance of the procedure of pin-firing or bar-firing (thermacautery) a horse.
(2) A person who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
- Add new Rule 99(1), (2), (3)(a), (b), (c), (4)
99. (1) Firing is a prohibited practice.
(2) Firing means a procedure which involves the application of thermal cautery to the legs of a horse and which creates damage to, or an inflammatory reaction in one or more tissues of the legs of a horse.
(3) If a horse has been subjected to a firing procedure in Australia:-
- The owner of the horse or that owner’s authorised agent must provide written notification of that to the Stewards as soon as practicable.
- The horse is ineligible for any race.
- A person must not enter or start the horse in any race.
(4) A person who fails to comply with this Rule is guilty of an offence.
9. DRIVERS
Priorities concerning horse to be driven
152A. (1) Where the spouse or partner of a driver is the owner or trainer of a horse in a race the driver shall not without the approval of the Stewards drive any horse in the race other than the horse owned or trained by his/her spouse or partner.
(2) A driver who fails to comply with sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
Offences – relating to sulkies
- Amend Rule 170(1)(a)
- Add new Rule 170(1)(c)
170. (1) (a) A driver shall, throughout the course of a race, drive with both feet on the footrests of the sulky, unless he is activating approved gear.
(b) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) hereof, when activating approved gear by foot, the driver’s foot shall not be moved in a downwards direction from the sulky footrest.
(c) A driver shall not place his feet on any part of the sulky other than the footrests.
12. PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES
Anabolic Steroids
- Add new Rule 190AA(5)
- Renumber existing Rule 190AA(5) to (6)
- Renumber existing Rule 190AA(6)(a), (b) to (7)(a), (b) and Amend
- Renumber existing Rule 190AA(7) to (8) and Amend
- Renumber existing Rule 190AA(8)(a), (b) to (9)(a), (b) and Amend
190AA.(1) A horse must not, in any manner, at any time, be administered an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator.
(2) Any person who:
(a) administers an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator;
(b) attempts to administer an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator;
(c) causes an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator to be administered; and/or
(d) is a party to the administration of, or an attempt to administer, an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator,
to a horse is guilty of an offence.
(3) Where the Stewards are satisfied that a horse has, or is likely to have been, administered any anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator contrary to this rule, the Stewards may prevent the horse from starting in any relevant race.
(4) When a sample taken at any time from a horse has detected in it an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator the horse is not permitted to start in any race or be used for the purposes of breeding:
(a) for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the collection of the sample in which an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator was detected; and
(b) only after an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid And/or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Clearing Certificate is provided in respect of a sample taken from the horse, such sample having been taken at a date determined by the Stewards.
(5) Where a sample taken at any time from a horse has detected in it an anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor the horse shall be disqualified from any race in which it has competed subsequent to the taking of such a sample and prior to the completion of the penalty specified in sub-rule 4(a) and the requirement in sub-rule 4(b).
(6) Any owner, lessee, nominator, trainer and/or person in charge of a horse registered under these Rules must, when directed by the Stewards or other person authorised by the Controlling Body, produce, or otherwise give full access to, the horse so that the Stewards or other person authorised by the Controlling Body may take or cause a sample to be taken and analysed to determine whether any anabolic androgenic steroid and/or selective androgen receptor modulator is present in the system of the horse.
(7) For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, sub-rule (6) requires an owner, lessee, nominator and/or trainer to produce the horse, or otherwise give full access to the horse, even if the horse is:
(a) under the care or control of another person; and/or
(b) located at the property of another person.
(8) Any person who fails to produce, or give full access to, a horse to provide a sample as required by sub-rule (6) is guilty of an offence.
(9) In respect of a horse registered under these Rules, where an owner, lessee, nominator, trainer and/or person in charge of a horse is in breach of sub-rule (6), the relevant horse will not be permitted to start in any race:
(a) for a period of not less than 12 months following the day on which the horse is in fact produced to the Stewards, or full access to the horse is otherwise given to the Stewards, so that a sample may be taken and analysed for anabolic androgenic steroids and/or selective androgen receptor modulator; and
(b) only after an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid And/or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Clearing Certificate is provided in respect of a sample taken from the horse, such sample having been taken at a date determined by the Stewards.
Log Book
- Add new Rule 190B(2)(xviii)
190B. (2) For the purposes of this rule treatment includes:
(i) all Controlled Drugs (Schedule 8) administered by a veterinarian
(ii) all Prescription Animal Remedies (Schedule 4)
(iii) all Prescription Only Medicines (Schedule 4) prescribed and/or dispensed by a veterinarian for off label use
(iv) all injectable veterinary medicines (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intra-articular) not already included above
(v) all Pharmacist only (Schedule 3) and Pharmacy Only (Schedule 2) medicines
(vi) all veterinary and other medicines containing other scheduled and unscheduled prohibited substances
(vii) all alkalinising agents
(viii) all herbal preparations
(ix) shockwave therapy
(x) acupuncture (including laser treatment)
(xi) chiropractic treatment
(xii) the use of any electrical stimulation device (including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
(xiii) magnetic field therapy
(xiv) ultrasound
(xv) any form of oxygen therapy including hyperbaric oxygen therapy
(xvi) the taking of a blood sample
(xvii) all veterinary examinations including but not limited to endoscopic or radiographic examinations
(xviii) cryotherapy.
14. GENERAL OFFENCES
Horses
- Add new Rule 218A(1)(a)(i), (ii), (b), (c), (d), (2), (3)
- Renumber existing Rule 218A(1) to 218B(1)
- Renumber existing Rule 218A(2) to 218B(2)
- Renumber existing Rule 218B(1) to 218C(1) and Amend
- Renumber existing Rule 218B(2) to 218C(2) and Amend
218A. (1) A person having responsibility for the welfare of a horse shall:-
- Exercise reasonable care, control or supervision of the horse so as to prevent:-
- An act of cruelty to the horse; or
- The horse’s body condition from declining to, in the opinion of the Stewards based on veterinary advice, an unacceptable level.
- Take such reasonable steps to alleviate any pain inflicted upon or being suffered by the horse.
- Obtain veterinary advice and provide treatment in accordance with that advice.
- Provide and ensure that the horse is ingesting proper and sufficient nutrition.
(2) For the purposes of sub-rule (1)(c) veterinary advice must include, but is not limited to, a diagnosis and/or advice and/or opinion from a veterinarian.
(3) A person who fails to comply with any provision of this Rule is guilty of an offence.
218B. (1) A person shall not mistreat a horse.
(2) For the purposes of this rule “mistreat” means to abuse or treat a horse badly, cruelly or unfairly.
218C. (1) A person in charge of a horse presented to race which on the racecourse has been found to be suffering a condition or has received veterinary treatment shall not be removed from the racecourse without the express permission of the Stewards.
(2) A trainer or the person in charge who removes a horse from the racecourse in contravention of sub-rule (1) is guilty of an offence.
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To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
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Name:
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Michael Prentice Clint Bentley
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Position:
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Integrity Manager Chairman of Stewards
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Phone:
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(02) 9722 6600 (02) 9722 6628
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Email:
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mprentice@hrnsw.com.au cbentley@hrnsw.com.au
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