Proposed Rule Amendments

Under section 11 of the GRNZ constitution the following two Rule amendments are proposed: 

Amendment 1: Definition of Qualifying Trial

qualifying trial means an Event held pursuant to conditions prescribed by GRNZ by which the eligibility of greyhounds to compete in another Event is determined. A qualifying trial is not a race.

Amendment 2: 127 Period of suspension to be imposed for marring or failing to pursue 

Subject to rule 125, where, in the opinion of the Stewards, a greyhound is found to have marred or failed to pursue the lure during an Event the Stewards must impose a period of suspension in respect of the greyhound, which is to be recorded as part of the identification record as follows: 

(a) in the case of a first marring offence, 28 days at all tracks and until the completion of a satisfactory trial and in the case of a first failing to pursue offence, 28 days at the track where the offence took place and until the completion of a satisfactory trial at that track; or  

Background

Definition of qualifying trial

The current definition of a qualifying trial is very similar to the definition of a race, the addition of the underlined sentence should remove any issue.

Penalty for first FTP Offence

Currently, GRNZ differs from GA in regards to a first FTP offence, in that GRNZ imposes a 28 day stand down at ALL tracks. 

The GA Rule only imposes the stand down at the track where the FTP offence took place and GRNZ are looking to adopt this.

With the Straight track being such a different experience for NZ greyhounds, trainers wishing to try their greyhounds on the Straight track will be able to do so without fear that an FTP offence will stand down their dog from their regular track(s).

However this Rule change applies everywhere, so that any first FTP offence will only be stood down for 28 days at the track where that FTP took place.