ROB'S SHOUT - NEW RULE REGARDING TIMING OF NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF TACTICS IS NOT UNREASONABLE

By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, September 20, 2012

Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership and Group 1 winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.

Hello again folks.

A new Australian Racing Board rule is to be introduced from October 1 whereby trainers will have to inform stewards of any proposed change of tactics half an hour before their race. This apparently is being done in the interests of 'transparency' … ie in order to keep the punter informed.

A variation of this rule has sort of been in place for some time, but now there is a specific time limit placed on any change of tactics notification!

I, like many other trainers, have in fact been fined by the stewards in the past for having one of my runners ridden in a different manner to its usual racing pattern. I can't remember the exact horse or what happened but I do remember well the fact that the horse drew a wide gate and was a tad slow away, so the jock went back to get in on my instructions … but I had not advised the stewards this may indeed happen if he didn't get away from the gates cleanly.

That certainly taught me a lesson and a habit I have since got into is popping my head into the stewards room and advising of any 'possible contentious' riding / tactic changes. Invariably they nearly all come about from the barrier positions and the possible tempo and speed maps.

I can certainly understand the reason why the public should be notified of any distinct tactical changes because I have had many horses in my care that, if ridden vastly different to their best and usual racing pattern, they can perform well below their best.

The addition to the rule, the stipulation that thirty minutes is now the time buffer for this information to get out to the public, is not unreasonable and my initial reaction to the new rule is not hostile.

I am happy enough to comply with this rule as I have done, or at least endeavour to do so to the best of my ability, but remember that there are still be many factors that can and do change the way horses are ridden in races … but no doubt the stewards take all those factors into consideration (more on that later).

I know the new rule has already raised a few interesting questions.

Is racing correct in taking this stance alone in the world of sports betting given that sports teams, who are also bet on in large amounts, have things liked 'closed' training sessions that hide tactics in order to give them a competitive advantage?

They may release their final team line ups as late as possible if a possible crucial team player has been carrying an injury so as to 'keep their cards close to their chest'!

This still doesn't seem to stop people punting on games.

Another question I hear being asked … is it not unfair that you are asked to hand your tactics to your opposition?

Or … what about … if this rule is strictly enforced and horses are expected to race accordingly, can that place undue pressure on the rider to follow the pre-arranged script even when it might ultimately be to his best advantage?

I fully understand where those questions are coming from and I have some sympathy with the sentiments involved.

The fact that must always be remembered in our industry though is that, as I have said many times, the punting dollar is the fuel that drives the engine of the industry …so it's an essential ingredient to the success of the industry.

I personally believe that punters should be given as much information as possible to ensure the integrity of racing remains at a high level and that is what this new rule is trying to achieve so I am happy to abide by it, even if it comes with certain ‘disadvantages’ touched on in the questions mentioned above.

There is a fourth question, which is probably the most delicate one of all.

More often than not individual race circumstances dictate how a horse has to be ridden. That factor is only confirmed in running and this sometimes unknown or changing variable is where the rule can backfire.

The final question then would be … is it not leaving the game open to more criticism by asking how you will run your horse when your horse might end up winning the race doing something completely different than announced because, for example, the speed of the race gave you no other option?

This outcome should not happen often. On the rare occasions it does, the stewards and public will hopefully have enough insight to recognize that the tactics ultimately adopted were valid in the particular circumstances.

There will always be plenty of opinions on this topic and we will hear plenty of debate about the new rule … kinda like the whip rule to a degree … but, with time, I think it will become the accepted norm!

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It is probably well know now that I have made a schedule change to Buffering's spring racing plans.

He has come to hand quicker and better than I had envisaged so it kinda made sense to now run him in the Group 2 Weight For Age AJ Moir stakes at Moonee Valley next Friday night.

He will be stabled a couple of kms up the road … he is fit, well and healthy and the race is worth $300 grand. He is a proven Weight For Age sprinter so I am more than happy to have him take his place in the field if all goes well with his flight down on Tuesday night.

The only negative I can see at this stage is his coat. He is still hanging onto his winter coat, but I expect that to improve very quickly. All up though, I am happy to be running him and they will certainly know he is there in the Group 2 sprint.

Whilst I am quiet at home with city metro runners for now, it could hopefully be a fruitful time in Melbourne.

Solzhenitsyn gets his crack at the big time in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke over 1400m at Caulfield. The rider situation has now been sorted with James McDonald getting some relief from his steward’s problem. I don't know the exact details, but he's on big Solzhie and that's all that matters to me.

It's been a bit of a frustrating few weeks back home with a stack of placings with three seconds and a couple of thirds on Wednesday, but all trainers know that stables go thru these runs and it may turn soon.

I certainly hope so and hopefully Buff and Solzhie can kick a goal next week.

Good luck on the weekend with some exciting racing as the spring carnival hots up.

Cheers.
Robert

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