Racing Victoria moves to reclassify serious offences to streamline its judicial process

Exclusive: Racing Victoria has moved to streamline the sport’s judicial process to save time and money with a reclassification of select rule breaches.

Racing Victoria has lodged an application to reclassify select Serious Offences under the Victorian Rules of Racing to streamline the judicial process.

Racing Victoria has moved to streamline the sport’s judicial process to save time and money with a reclassification of select rule breaches defined as a “serious offence”.

This masthead has established the RV board last month short-listed multiple rules, including conduct “prejudicial to the image” of racing, for consideration as a “general offence”.

The RV proposal is currently before the Victorian Racing Integrity Board, an independent government appointed body.

The conduct prejudicial rule in particular has come under scrutiny the past six months after star jockey Jamie Kah and stablehand Ruby McIntyre were charged by stewards in July over a white powder controversy.

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This masthead has established RV’s motivation behind the application to the VRIB is to save time and money for all parties involved in integrity matters and to reduce the load and volume of cases being sent to the VRT.

The Kah and McIntyre matter specifically had no influence on the RV pitch.

The case could be resolved on Friday with a VRT decision hearing from 9.30am.

While not a catalyst for the RV bid to reclassify certain rules, the Kah and McIntyre case has been a real time example of the speed at which a contested matter runs its course under the current framework.

Jamie Kah is set to learn her fate at the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Friday morning. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Kah and McIntyre, who pleaded not guilty at the earliest opportunity, were charged by stewards in early July and faced an VRT directions hearing in mid August.

The matter would then be heard over two days in mid and late November with the decision reserved until Friday.

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Under the Victorian Rules of Racing, a serious offence must be sent directly to the Victorian Racing Tribunal for a hearing once charges are laid by the stewards.

Whereas a general offence, like careless riding, is prosecuted by stewards in the first instance with the right to appeal a decision or penalty at the VRT.

The VRT hears thoroughbred, harness and greyhound cases, so matters take time to move through the judicial process.

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RV would not comment on whether it is currently seeking to reclassify specific rules, but confirmed any changes must first be endorsed by the VRIB.

“The Victorian Racing Integrity Board is a Government appointed independent body that oversees the delivery of integrity across the three racing codes,” the RV spokesman said.

There are more than 400 rules within the Victorian Rules of Racing, including 21 serious offences.

These include rules against stomach tubing, misconduct, jockey betting, culpable riding, false and/or misleading evidence to stewards, drug-related offences and the use of electric apparatuses (jiggers).

RV has added, amended and reclassified rules in the past.