Chairman of Stewards Report – June 2014 AR.178AA – Alkalinising Agents Trainers are reminded of the implications of AR.178AA and the restrictions on the use of “alkalinising agents” within one clear day of racing. For the purposes of AR.178AA, an alkalinising agent is any substance that may elevate the plasma TCO2 of a horse when administered by any route. AR.178AA prohibits the administration of alkalinising agents by any route, including in feed, within the one clear day of racing. As an example, for a horse racing on Saturday, the one clear day is the Friday, so that the latest an alkalinising agent can be administered, including when added to the feed, is the Thursday before the Saturday. Alkalinising agents that must not be administered either on the day of the race or within the one clear day of racing include, but are not limited to, bicarbonates, citrates, succinates, acetates, propionates, maleates, lactates and trometamol (THAM, tris buffer or trometamine) and also include products marketed as urinary alkalinisers and hind gut buffers. Products that contain alkalinising agents and which must not be administered within the one clear day before racing or prior to competing in an official trial or jump-out include proprietary formulations such as: Sodium Bicarbonate (“bicarb”), Baladene®, Neutra-Syrup®, Neutralka®, Neutrolene®, Neutrolene Plus® and Neutradex® and any other products that are marketed as lactic acid buffering or neutralising products. This restriction includes the addition of these products to feed. Lang's Solution® for intravenous use is also considered to be an alkalinising agent and must not be administered within one clear day of competition. Balanced electrolyte supplements and potassium supplements that contain electrolytes may be administered or fed in normally recommended amounts within the one clear day. Examples of normal balanced electrolyte products would include such proprietary preparations as Applyte Gel®, Electromix®, Electro Paste®, Electrovite Paste®, Endura-Max®, Endura-Max Paste®, Equicharge® Horsport® Humidimix®, KelatoLYTE Electrolyte Replacer®, Ranvet Electrolytes®, Recharge®, Restore® and Vetsense®. Commercial electrolyte supplements which may contain some alkalinising agents but which should have negligible effects on plasma TCO2 when administered in feed according to the manufacturers’ recommendations for normal daily use include Equilyte®, Race Electrolyte®, and Salkavite®. Examples of commercial balanced intravenous solutions that can be used up to and including the day prior to racing but not pre-race on the day of the race include Darrow’s Solution®, Hartmann’s Solution® and Lactated Ringers. Any queries should be directed to Racing NSW Senior Official Veterinarian Dr C Suann on 8344 5050. Stable Security and location of horses Late night patrols of metropolitan stables by members of the Surveillance and Investigation Unit during “The Championships,” revealed a disturbing number of stables unlocked and accessible. Each of the trainers concerned have been placed on notice and deficiencies in the perimeter security for on course stabling have been brought to the attention of the relevant bodies. All trainers are reminded of their responsibilities to provide adequate security for horses in their care. This includes trainers involved in communal or shared stabling arrangements and trainers leasing stabling accommodation from race clubs. No allowances will be made to trainers involved in such arrangements if required to satisfy the onus placed on them by the Rules of Racing. LR 78. (1) A trainer is at all times responsible for the administration and conduct of his or her stables. (2) A trainer is at all times responsible for the care, control and supervision of the horses in his or her stables. Trainers are also strongly reminded of the provisions of AR80F which requires all horses in a trainers care to be stabled at the registered stable address as notified on the trainers’ current license renewal/application form. This together with the new local rule 39A (effective 1 May 2014), mean that stable return records will provide Stewards performing stable audits with an accurate listing of all horses currently in a trainers stable. Importantly AR80F(2) provides a person found in breach of part (1) of that rule may be penalized and the nominations of horses involved may be refused. AR 80F. (1) A trainer shall not, without having made written application and obtained the consent of the Stewards, stable any horse trained by him in any location other than his registered stable address as notified on his current licence renewal or application form. (2) Any person found in breach of this rule may be penalised and the nomination of the horse concerned may be refused. LR39A. A trainer must adhere to the following conditions pertaining to the pretraining of racehorses (i) The notified trainer of a horse shall ensure that any horse being pre-trained must be returned to his/her care, control and supervision at his/her registered stable address no later than two weeks prior to such horse competing in an official trial and no later than one month prior to it competing in a race. (ii) The trainer shall ensure that the owner of a horse being pre-trained is fully acquainted with the details of the pre-training arrangement including the location of the horse and with a full disclosure of the associated costs. (iii) Should any provisions of sub rules (1) and (2) not be complied with the trainer concerned may be penalised and the Stewards may withdraw such horse from any trial or race engagement. Intra-articular Corticosteroids The Australian Racing Board (ARB), having regard to extensive veterinary and scientific advice, has decided that the Stand Down Period, before a horse can race after an intra-articular administration of corticosteroids, will be 10 days (8 Clear Days). The ARB made its decision in the best interests of the welfare of the horse and safety of riders whilst cognizant of Australian racing conditions. A new rule requiring a 10 day (8 Clear Days) Stand Down Period, will be introduced on 1 August, 2014. New track ratings scale The Australian Racing Board, after public and industry consultation has introduced a revised Track Ratings Scale. The new Track Ratings Scale is: Rating Numerical Rating Description of Numerical Rating Firm 1 Dry hard track Firm 2 Firm track with reasonable grass coverage Good 3 Track with good grass coverage and cushion Good 4 Track with some give in it Soft 5 Track with a reasonable amount of give in it Soft 6 Moist but not a badly affected track Soft 7 More rain-affected track that will chop out Heavy 8 Rain affected track that horses will get into Heavy 9 Wet track getting into a squelchy area Heavy 10 Heaviest category track, very wet, towards saturation The new ratings will not come into effect until the 1 December, 2014 as extensive changes are required to the IT systems and data feeds of RISA and their commercial customers. Winter Trackwork With shorter days of winter upon us, licensees are reminded of their obligations to make sure both riders and stablehands and their horses are visible before sunrise by; (i) Trainers ensuring every horse being led on a public roadway or thoroughfare is wearing a rug or other gear with reflective strips (AR 80D) (ii) Trainers ensuring their riders or horse attendants are wearing reflective vests (AR80D) (iii) Riders whilst on a horse ensuring they have a light affixed to their helmet (AR87AAA) Failure to comply with these requirements not only place the parties concerned in breach of the rules of racing but may well have implications with respect to insurances should an accident occur.