Richard Freedman: Racing’s change of tactics rule ‘out of step’ with other sports

A prominent trainer says racing authorities should consider binning the rule which forces connections to publicly declare changes of tactics in the way horses are going to be ridden.

Richard Freedman says Australian racing authorities must take a fresh look at the “ill conceived” rule where trainers must notify stewards of changes of tactics with horses. Picture: Getty Images.

Richard Freedman says racing is out of step with other sports that punters bet on, with an “ill conceived rule” which forces trainers to publicly declare their hand with changes of tactics.

The prominent trainer and media personality says authorities should take a fresh look at the rule where connections of a horse must inform stewards if their horse will be ridden differently to its usual pattern.

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Freedman, who was part of the Melbourne Cup winning “FBI” (Freedman Brothers Incorporated), compares it to a football team having to publicly declare the way they are going to play.

“It is out of step with other sports that people bet on,” Freedman told Racenet.

“The biggest growth area of wagering at the moment is sports betting – but no coach or captain reveals the tactics in sport before they go out on the field.

“Yet the punters still bet on it. Owners pay for horses and so they are basically paying for information about their horses – the punters aren’t paying for that.”

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Richard Freedman says racing authorities need to take a fresh look at a rule where stewards must be advised of changes of tactics. Picture: Getty Images.

Trainers can be fined if they don’t advise changes of tactics in Australia, yet the rich Asian racing mecca of Hong Kong has no such rule.

Freedman, who trains at Rosehill in partnership with son Will, argues that it should be the sole right of owners and connections to know how a horse is going to be ridden in advance.

He feels the balance between owners and punters in racing has become too one-sided.

“I understand the motive behind the rule – it might have been noble – but in reality it is confusing and ill-conceived and it takes away what I think is the right of the owner,” Freedman said.

“Give the owner a chance, the owner who is forking out for the horse and for training fees.

“The punters aren’t forking out for the training fees or for the horse. But someone who owns a racehorse, they have got it for a long time.

“You’ve got to keep a balance between looking after the punter – because they provide the funds for the industry – but you also have to look after the owner and the participants.

“I think this whole change of tactics routine is out of balance. It is too much the punters’ way.”

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The FBI (Freedman Brothers Incorporated) back in the day – Richard (left) with brothers Michael, Lee and Anthony.

Freedman predicts one of racing’s biggest problems in the future will be a diminishing owner base.

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He feels racing rules such as the change of tactics isn’t helping the sport keep existing owners or attract new ones.

“I think the biggest problem for racing in the next 10 years will be the owner base,” Freedman said.

“It’s getting so narrow, all the smaller players can afford to do is to be in these micro shares of horses. They can’t even afford to own five per cent of a horse, it’s so expensive for them.

“And then there is this change of tactics rule which has to be abided by.

“It’s also a rule that can be manipulated at times. If you want a pacemaker, you just say you want to lead and it’s happy days, and there’s your pacemaker.

“And no one can say anything.”

Originally published as Richard Freedman: Racing’s change of tactics rule ‘out of step’ with other sports