Racing Victoria is set to enforce stricter penalties for riding offences during feature races this spring, including careless, reckless, and improper riding, as well as whip rule breaches. The new rules will apply to Group 1 races and events with prizemoney of $750,000 or more, starting with the Memsie Stakes.
Under the changes, suspensions for low-range careless riding will increase from 10 to 14 meetings, while mid-range and high-range offences will see bans rise to 22 and 26 meetings, respectively. Whip rule violations will also carry harsher penalties, with suspensions ranging from 11 to 18 meetings depending on the severity.
RV chairman of stewards, Rob Montgomery, highlighted the need for safety, noting that riders are 3.3 times more likely to be suspended in Group 1 races. “We want to ensure that a win-at-all-costs attitude does not creep in,” Montgomery said, emphasising the importance of rider safety and rule compliance in high-stakes races.