Following a British Horseracing Authority Board meeting on Monday, the following have been approved:

INCREASED CORRUPTION PENALTIES

The Board has approved changes to the penalties for breached of the Rules surrounding corruption in Racing following a review of the penalties by the Working Party. These consist of increased entry points, and some changes to the overall penalty ranges.

The amendments, which will be introduced at the start of the Flat Season in 2010, will see the following changes –

Rule	Entry Point (Existing)		Range (Existing)	Entry Point (New)	Range (New)
A(36)	Rider	Disqualify 18 Months	9 Months – 3 Years	3 Years	18 Months – 5 Years
	Trainer/Owner /Authorised Rider’s Agent	Suspend/Withdraw /Disqualify 18 Months	9 Months – 5 Years	Disqualify 3 Years	18 Months – 5 Years
	Stable Employee/ Service Provider/ Other Person	Disqualify/Exclude 1 Year	9 Months – 5 Years	3 Years	18 Months – 5 Years

Rule	Entry Point (Existing)		Range (Existing)	Entry Point (New)	Range (New)
B(59) a) i)	Rider/Trainer	Disqualify 30 Months	21 Months – 10 Years	5 Years	3 – 15 Years
B(59) b) & c)	Rider/Trainer	Suspend/Withdraw 9 Months	6 Months – 2 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	1 – 5 Years

Rule	Entry Point (Existing)		Range (Existing)	Entry Point (New)	Range (No Change)
C(64)	Trainer	Suspend/Withdraw /Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
C(64)	Stable Employee	Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
E(92)	Owner	Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
D(78)	Authorised Rider’s Agent	Disqualify/Exclude 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
A(35)	Service Provider	Disqualify/Exclude 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years

Rule	Entry Point (Existing)		Range (Existing)	Entry Point (New)	Range (No Change)
D(53.2)	Jockey	Suspend/Withdraw /Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
D(54)	Amateur Rider	Suspend/Withdraw Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years
D(75)	Valet	Suspend/Withdraw Disqualify 6 Months	3 Months – 10 Years	Disqualify 18 Months	3 months – 10 Years

Nic Coward, BHA Chief Executive, said:

“The changes to these Rules reflect the Authority’s zero tolerance approach to corruption in Racing. This is the latest addition to a number of changes in our approach to Integrity, including the recent introduction of enhanced suitability criteria.

“Those who are prepared to breach the Rules must be aware of the penalties involved. An increase in these penalties will hopefully act as a deterrent for anyone seeking to profit from malpractice.”

INCREASED PENALTY FOR LATE ARRIVALS TO THE PARADE RING IN GROUP AND GRADE 1 RACES

The Board has approved an increase to the fine imposed on those entering the parade ring late for Group and Grade 1 races from the start of the Flat Turf season.

At present, a breach of Rule B(27.4) incurs the same penalty, not withstanding the importance of the race. Following a review carried out by the Working Party who recommended an increase in penalties for Group and Grade 1 races in Britain.

From 27^th March, connections of any horse that arrives into the Parade Ring for a Group or Grade 1 race after the time stipulated on the Timetable Plan for Start Times, will be fined 0.5% of the Total Prize Fund for that race, for every horse late into the Parade Ring.

Tony Goodhew, BHA Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation, said:

“This change has been brought about as it is our belief that is extremely important for the paying public to see the horses before these big races.

“Secondly, this reflects a wider strategy carried out by the Stewards to ensure that a race starts at the designated time, as the increased penalty insists on the importance of having all horses promptly in the Parade Ring.”

CHANGES TO REMOUNTING RULE INTRODUCED FROM 1^ST MARCH

Following the introduction of the ban on remounting in November 2009, the British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that, from 1^st March 2010, jockeys will be permitted to ride back to the unsaddling area without being cleared by a Racecourse Medical Officer. However, jockeys will remain unable to remount and continue in the race.

The introduction of the remounting ban prevented any jockey from remounting without the horse having been checked over by the attending Veterinary Surgeon and the jockey by a Racecourse Medical Officer.

Rule 46 will remain in place from 1^st March but, on recommendation from BHA Chief Medical Advisor Dr Michael Turner, the BHA Board has agreed to amend it whereby, if the Racecourse Medical Officer has not carried out his examination before completion of the veterinary examination, the rider will be allowed to remount.

Tony Goodhew, BHA Director of Raceday Operations and Regulation, said:

“Experience has shown, when balancing the risk between a loose horse and a jockey riding back to the unsaddling enclosure, that allowing the jockey to mount and hack back poses less of an overall safety threat.

“A jockey who has hold of his horse following a fall or unseating can now ride back as soon as the horse has been checked over, therefore reducing the potential for the horse to run loose and pose a risk to itself and people on and around the track.”

BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY APPROVES TAPETA SURFACE FOR USE ON LICENSED RACECOURSES

Under Rule (F)19, the BHA must approve any All Weather racing surface and, after approaching the BHA Racecourse Department in 2007, Tapeta Footings Ltd has been working with the BHA to ensure compliance with its protocol.

Samples of the surface have been assessed by the BHA Medical and Veterinary Departments while the BHA Racecourse Department and Inspectorate team have visited trainers’ private Tapeta gallops in Britain.

Following completion of the protocol compliance, including participant feedback from the NTF and PJA, the BHA Board has approved Tapeta for use as a synthetic racing surface at licensed racecourses.

Notes for Editors:

1.  The Rules –
Rule A(36) – Communication of Inside Information
Rule B(59) – Failure to run a horse on its merits
Rule C(64), Rule E(92), Rule D(78), A(35),   – Restrictions on laying a horse to lose
Rule D(53.2) – Betting and betting contacts: professional riders
Rule D(54) – Betting: amateur riders
Rule D(75) – Restrictions on betting and betting contacts: valets

2. Penalties for a breach of Rule B(27.4) are listed under Band B –
£140 for the first offence, £280 for the second offence, £560 for the third offence and a referral on the fourth offence

3. In 2009, the Total Prize Fund for the Investec Derby was £1,250,000 and therefore the fine per horse would have been £6,125 as opposed the fines levied of £140 per horse

4. The amended Rule B(46), reads:

46. Remounting a horse

46.1 If during the race a horse is remounted and continues in the race it shall, on an objection by the Stewards under Part 7, be disqualified.

46.2 No rider may remount after a race has started and ride back to the place appointed for unsaddling unless

         46.2.1 he has been examined by a Racecourse Medical Officer, and

         46.2.2 his horse has been examined by a Veterinary Surgeon.

46.3 Paragraph 46.2.1 does not apply if the Racecourse Medical Officer is unable to carry out the examination before completion of the veterinary examination under Paragraph 46.2.2.

Please note – all horses must still be examined by a Veterinary Surgeon before the jockey is allowed to remount.

5.  The 2009 Press Release detailing the changes to Rule 46 can be found here:

https://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/media/releaseDetail.asp?item=090561