Jockey Club extends 'laying to lose' rules
The Jockey Club have expanded the rule which prohibits owners, trainers and stable employees from laying horses in their ownership or care to lose.
Starting on December 1, Rule 247 will extend to those persons who provide a service to a trainer, such as a veterinary surgeon, farrier or equine dentist.
It would be a breach of the rule for such individuals to lay any horse under the care or control of the relevant trainer within 21 days of the provision of the service.
Under the current rule, introduced in September 2003, owners, trainers and stable employees found in breach face a penalty of disqualification ranging from 3 months to 10 years, depending on the circumstances and gravity of the offence.
The same length of ban would apply under the expanded rule, although individuals facing a charge may well not be licensed or registered and therefore would not be bound by the Rules of Racing.
In such instances they would be recommended to be excluded from licensed premises for a similar period of time.
Paul Scotney, Jockey Club director of security, said: “The amendment is a logical progression to what we introduced last year and is designed to extend the rule to include those individuals who, although unlicensed, come into close proximity with horses ready to run.
“The expansion of the rule is intended to act as a further deterrent to the misuse of privileged information.”
