FROM THE SHERIFF'S DESK: THE HARMONISATION OF RACING RULES. IT IS TIME WE GOT OUR ACT TOGETHER

By John Schreck | Wednesday, November 30, 2016

John Schreck, a former Chief Steward in both Sydney and Hong Kong, has seen both the colourful and the dark sides of racing. His wealth of experience and his deep knowledge of racing matters across the board is unquestioned and the reputation he built as a racing ‘lawman’ remains firmly entrenched in racing’s history. Shreck’s personal blog, ‘From the Sheriff’s Desk', appears exclusively on HRO.

Stewards from all around the world will be meeting in Hong Kong next week to discuss the harmonisation of racing rules.

It is disappointing that an international conference is happening along those lines yet, here in Australia, harmonisation in relation to dual licenses seems to be causing such a problem.

In some parts of Queensland, for example, the state's trainers can be licensed as jockeys and in other parts of the state they can’t. In Victoria, of course, dual licenses are allowed while New South Wales doesn’t allow that at all.

It is a shame that the national body, the Australian Racing Board, can’t bring the states together on an issue like that.

As sure as night follows day it will happen ... it is inevitable ... so why not let it happen sooner rather than later.

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The argument being put forward against it happening is that it is an integrity issue.

Surely if it is an integrity issue in the southern part of Queensland it would be an integrity issue in the northern part of Queensland.

It would be good to know what part of racing’s integrity is actually compromised by the having dual licensees.

It sounds like a crazy argument to me particularly as no explanation in that regard has been forthcoming.

Those touting the integrity line either don’t have a clear explanation or they have chosen not to give one.

I, like many others, can’t see what the integrity issue is. I really can’t!

If it is good enough in one town it should be good enough in another town.

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For the record the right to hold a dual license in Victoria was formalised in November 2015.

One of the motivations for doing that was to help with the transition of riders through to the training ranks should they want to follow that route.

Racing Victoria also addressed any possible integrity issues from the outset by issuing certain conditions that the dual licensee has to abide by.

If they want to ride in a race and they have a horse engaged in that race as a trainer they can only ride their own horse ... in other words they cannot ride against their own stable, except with the specific approval of the stewards.

They also cannot nominate more than one horse in a race ... and there were other criteria listed, such as having to complete a minimum number of rides to retain their jockey licence, but the first two factors mentioned above speak to the heart of any possible integrity issue.

This shows that Racing Victoria had done their due diligence on the subject and found nothing untoward in the issuing of dual licenses.

And, to my knowledge, there has not been a problem with the rule.

Why Racing New South Wales and Racing Queensland seem intent on creating one is beyond me.

To reiterate, I find it very disappointing that there is talk of international harmonisation of racing rules yet there is not even harmonisation within Australia or, taking it further, even within one state if we are talking about dual licensing conditions in Queensland.

It is time we got our act together!