As advised on 25 October 2013, the Board of the National Horseracing Authority has taken the decision to ban the use of anabolic steroids.
To this end, certain rule changes will be implemented with effect from 1 December 2013. On receipt of the notice referred to, owners have expressed concerns that most owners are not involved with the day to day care of their horses and leave the medication and maintenance of their horses with their trainers.
As such, the wording of the new proposed RULE 73.4.1 which makes provision for an owner to be guilty of an offence in the event of an anabolic steroid being administered to a horse, would have the effect of penalising an owner who played no part in such administration.
Given these legitimate concerns, the NHA will simultaneously with the introduction of RULE 73.4, amend RULE 76.7 by adding the underlined words so that it will read as follows: 76.7 If an OWNER of a HORSE is charged with a contravention of any of the sub-rules to RULE 73.2 or RULE 73.4.1, it shall be a defence for such OWNER to prove that he was unaware of any contravention of such RULE. This amendment will address the aforesaid concerns.
