Racing New South Wales have taken a positive step to alleviate confusion and misinformation regarding dual acceptors on major Saturday race meetings.

As the rules currently stand horses can be listed in the final field for multiple races on the same card while trainers take their time in deciding which race they will actually compete in.

This has caused obvious confusion for organisers promoting race days and has also meant big effects on betting markets with punters having to gamble on which race a horse will be in let alone how it might perform.

Before making the rule change Racing NSW heard statements and requests from the Racing Industry Consultative Group, NSW Trainers Association and various media outlets.

The ultimate decision is for trainers to confirm which race a horse will run in by 5pm on the day acceptances are announced.
“When coming to a decision Racing NSW was very mindful of the optimum promotion of our race meetings and providing clear final field information to the media and public in a timely manner,” CEO Racing NSW Peter V’Landys said.

“We also respect the right of the trainer and owner to have every opportunity to place their horse in the best possible race.

“The earlier scratching time of 5pm on acceptance day provides the trainer and the horse’s connections time to assess the race in which their horse will be most competitive in before making their decision.”

The exact wording of the Local Rule of Racing 42 now reads:

LR42 (1) The trainer of any horse accepted in more than one race on the same day at a NSW metropolitan race meeting conducted on a Saturday must by no later than 5pm on the day of acceptances for such meeting elect which engagement the horse will fulfil by withdrawing the horse from all other engagements at that meeting, except where the horse is an emergency runner in an alternate race.

(2) -No horse may compete in more than one race on any one day.

The rule will come into effect from the 1st of May this year.