February 2023

Industry Notice

Commission reminds connections that lay betting is a breach in all three codes of racing

24 February 2023 

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) is warning all racing participants that lay betting is a breach of the rules, for all connections including owners.

The warning comes after a number of recent investigations into lay betting were opened by stewards.

Each of the three codes of racing has rules against betting on racing animals to lose, if you have a connection to that animal.  

In thoroughbred and harness racing, the rule also extends to ‘place lay betting’, or betting on a horse to place rather than win.   

In greyhound racing, the rules state that if you are directly involved or employed in the nomination, training or care of a greyhound, or if you have provided a service connected to a greyhound within 21 days prior to an event, you cannot place a lay bet on the greyhound. 

Thoroughbred rules

QRIC Chief thoroughbred steward Josh Adams said the Commission is concerned about reports of owners lay betting against a horse in which they were connected.  

"Under no circumstances are the connections of a thoroughbred racehorse permitted to lay a horse in their care and or ownership," he said. 

"If connections breach AR 237 they may be penalised by QRIC Stewards. 
See the Thoroughbred rule here. 

Harness rules

QRIC Chief harness steward David Farquharson said the harness rules also prescribed against the practise of lay betting. 
 
"Under AHR 235A A trainer must not lay any horse that is either under his care, control or supervision or has been in the preceding 21 days" he said. 
See the relevant Harness rule here. 

"For the purposes of the harness racing rule “lay” means the offering or the placing of a bet on a horse: 
(a) to lose a race; 
(b) to be beaten by any other runner or runners; 
(c) to be beaten by any margin or range of margins; 
(d) that a horse will not be placed in a race in accordance with the provisions of Rule 49. 

"These offences are serious and I'm calling on all participants to ensure their connections including their owners are aware of the lay betting rules," Mr Farquharson said. 

Greyhound rules

Chief Greyhound Steward Wade Hadley said those associated with greyhound racing must be aware of the lay betting rule GAR 166 which clearly specifies when you cannot ‘lay’ a greyhound. 

"In greyhound racing, the rules against lay betting extend to a variety of people who may have had a connection with the greyhound within the 21 days prior to a race," Mr Hadley said. 

See the Greyhounds Australasia Rule GAR166 here. 

Connections of all racing animals  are encouraged to familiarise themselves with
AR 237 and AHR 235A and GAR 166 . 

For further information contact stewards@qric.qld.gov.au