DoL calls on racing industry to make safety change

The Department of Labour has called on the thoroughbred horseracing industry to implement new procedures around track safety, in the wake of an incident that left a jockey seriously injured.

The Department investigated Rangiora Racecourse after two jockeys had to be taken to hospital when horses fell during a race on 21 October last year. Jockey Judy Lawson suffered serious head injuries as a result.

Acting Chief Advisor of Health and Safety Bob Hill says the Department has concluded that no deliberate action was taken that day by the stipendiary steward of the racetrack to place jockeys at risk.

“However, a further practicable step could have been taken to formally involve jockey representatives in the decision-making, which may or may not have affected the decision to allow racing,” says Mr Hill.

As a result the Department of Labour has called on New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to implement a number of changes to reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident at future race meetings.

These include:

- Establishing a formal procedure for situations when issues of track safety have been raised on race day or at trials. This procedure should involve jockey representatives, trainer representatives, the race course manager, and stipendiary steward.

- That decisions by the stipendiary steward not be made until they have considered input from all of the above parties.

- That these procedures be effectively implemented, including a system for ensuring compliance and addressing incidents of non-compliance.

- That the suitability of Rangiora track for future racing be a matter to be addressed by parties involved.

Mr Hill says although the racing industry currently has informal procedures in place that allow jockeys to approach race stewards with concerns, this accident has highlighted the need for a formalised procedure.

“The expertise available to make informed decisions on the safety of a track is from those people actively involved in the industry – jockeys, trainers, racecourse managers and the governing body,” says Mr Hill.

ENDS.

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