Irish Horseracing Industry Act, 1994

Starting price.

33.—(1) A person shall not determine or disseminate the starting price on any horse race at a race-fixture at an authorised racecourse save under and in accordance with a starting price licence.

(2) The Authority shall, subject to this section, grant a starting price licence, subject to such conditions or restrictions as it sees fit, to a person who is acceptable to it and is nominated by the executive of an authorised racecourse or a body representing authorised racecourses to determine and disseminate the starting price in respect of horse races—

(a) in the case of a nomination by the executive of an authorised racecourse, at race-fixtures at its racecourse, or

(b) in the case of a nomination by a body representing authorised racecourses, at race-fixtures at any or all racecourses which that body represents.

(3) It shall be a condition of a starting price licence that the person who makes the nomination under subsection (2) shall not have any involvement in the determination or dissemination of the starting price or any property rights in relation to the starting price to which the licence relates.

(4) In the absence of a nomination acceptable to the Authority under subsection (2), the Authority may grant to another person a starting price licence, subject to such conditions or restrictions as it sees fit, to determine and disseminate the starting price in respect of horse races at race-fixtures at any racecourse specified in the licence in respect of which a starting price licence has not been granted under subsection (2).

(5) There shall be not more than one starting price determined for the purposes of dissemination in respect of any particular horse in any horse race at a race-fixture.

(6) The Authority may, in order to protect the integrity of the starting price return—

(a) restrict who may be granted a starting price licence, or

(b) limit the number of starting price licences.

(7) A starting price licence shall be in force for such period as the Authority may decide and in order to protect the integrity of the starting price return different licences may be in force for different periods.

(8) The Authority may, in order to protect the integrity of the starting price return, revoke or suspend for such period as it thinks fit a starting price licence.