Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016

Rules of Racing

11. (1) Section 39 (as amended by section 7 of the Act of 2001) of the Act of 1994 is amended by substituting for subsection (1) the following:

“(1) The Racing Regulatory Body continues in being and the general functions of that Body shall, for the purposes of this Act, be—

(a) to be solely and independently responsible for the making and enforcing of the Rules of Racing,

(b) to provide adequate integrity services to horseracing,

(c) to ensure the provision of on-course integrity services by employing, monitoring and controlling the activities of horseracing officials, including the following—

(i) inspectors of courses,

(ii) clerks of the courses,

(iii) clerks of scales,

(iv) handicappers,

(v) starters,

(vi) judges,

(vii) veterinary officers,

(viii) medical officers,

(ix) security officers,

(x) stewards’ secretaries,

(xi) veterinary assistants, and

(xii) senior racing officials,

(d) upon payment to HRI of the appropriate licence fee, to license racecourses, under the Rules of Racing and all participants in racing, including all classes of trainers, jockeys, jockeys’ valets, jockeys’ agents and stablestaff,

(e) to set charges for licences, registration of hunter certificates and participation in point-to-point steeplechases, in consultation with HRI, and in so doing to have regard to the annual budget agreed under section 42,

(f) to make all decisions relating to doping control, forensics and handicapping in respect of horseracing,

(g) to be responsible for the representation of Irish horseracing internationally in respect of its functions under this Act,

(h) to develop codes of practice and assurance schemes for matters within its functions under this Act, and

(i) to maintain the existing nature of point-to-point steeplechases, including making and enforcing the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Regulations for point-to-point steeplechase as made by the Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee).”.

(2) Section 42 (as amended by section 7 of the Act of 2001) of the Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after subsection (2) (inserted by section 7 of the Act of 2001) the following:

“(3) HRI shall account for and pay, without undue delay or any set off, counterclaim or deduction, to the Racing Regulatory Body any funds received by it—

(a) under section 39(1) (d),

(b) as a result of registration of hunter certificates or registration of participants in point-to-point steeplechases, or

(c) in the form of fines under the Rules of Racing,

and such amounts shall be taken into consideration when determining a budget for integrity services under subsection (1) after appropriate deductions for the reasonable requirements of the Racing Regulatory Body to ensure it maintains appropriate independent functions and infrastructure.”.

(3) Section 44 (as amended by section 7 of the Act of 2001) of the Act of 1994 is amended by substituting for subsection (1) the following:

“(1) The Racing Regulatory Body shall consult with HRI when making or amending the Rules of Racing. The Racing Regulatory Body may dispense with such consultation where it considers there is an urgency to make the Rules of Racing and shall inform HRI accordingly.”.