Racing Victoria has successfully simplified the judicial process by reclassifying specific rule violations from “serious” to “general” crime categories.
This major announcement last December revealed that the RV Board had submitted a shortlist of breaches, including conduct damaging to the image of racing, to the Victorian Racing Integrity Board for consideration.
The reclassification, which came into effect from February 1, included Australian Rule 228 – conduct prejudicial to the interest of racing – and AR 232 failure to observe the processes and directions of state racing organizers and supervisors.
The new local rule (94A) – no intimidating or abusive behavior – has been classified as a serious offence.
The biased conduct rule came under scrutiny last year as star jockey Jamie Kah spent six months to clear her name before the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
Stablehand Ruby McIntyre, a co-accused in the white powder saga who is guilty of harmful conduct, will appear at a sentencing hearing this month.
The hearing was postponed last month to give McIntyre more time to compile personal references.
The Kah and McIntyre cases had no impact on RV's desire to simplify the judicial framework, but the well-documented matter certainly highlighted in real time the need to expedite less serious violations.
The remaining 19 serious offences, which include jockey betting, drug taking, guilty riding and gastric tubes, must be sent directly to the VRT once charges are laid.
A common offence, such as reckless riding, is prosecuted by the stewards with participants given the right to appeal the decision and/or penalty at the VRT.
The VRT listens to and determines matters from all three codes, Thoroughbred, Harness and Greyhound statuses, so things take time to move through the schedule.
RV informed participants of the changes last week as part of a wide-ranging “updates and adjustments” communication to the racing rules.
The RV Council supported the removal of AR 228 (a), AR 232 (h, i) and LR 99 from the list of serious crimes “which would save resources, money and time”.
It was originally published as Racing Victoria and is successful in the field of simplifying the judicial process
