Greyhound Racing Victoria would like to remind all participants of the local rules coming into effect for meetings held on or
after 1st October 2023.
Overview of the local rule changes
New Local Rule: 47A Frequency of Starts
This is a change to an existing rule to ensure better welfare outcomes and mitigate the risk of greyhounds being raced very frequently.
The new local rule builds on the national rules preventing consecutive days racing, satisfactory trials and/or coursing by imposing the maximum number of starts that a greyhound may have across a given period:
- One (1) event, race or satisfactory trial in 2 days (current national rule), and
- Two (2) events, races or satisfactory trials in 7 days (new local rule), and
- Seven (7) events, races or satisfactory trials in 28 days (new local rule).
- Note in relation to coursing, one ‘Event’ is any number of courses on the same day at a coursing meeting.
Amendment to Plumpton’s Rules of Racing (Coursing)
Given the 2023 Coursing season has now concluded the changes will apply from the 2024 season.
The changes were minor adjustments, primarily related to the use of a more consistent language as well as a more modernised version of the rules.
Click here to view the rules under ‘Incoming Greyhound Racing Victoria Rules’.
Furthermore, please see below for related FAQs:
No, your greyhound will be removed prior to grading or close of scratching’s, there will be no fine or stand down penalty applied.
Yes, you can, but GRV will be removing greyhounds that will be breaching the no more than 2 events in seven days or no more than 7 events in 28 days.
Yes, the rule applies to all distances.
If in breach of the no more than 2 starts in seven days, or no more than 7 starts in 28 days rule, the greyhound would be ineligible to compete in the semi-final or final.
To avoid disappointment, you will need ensure that your greyhound will not be in breach when nominating.
- Coursing – participating in any courses on the same day at a coursing meeting conducted over one day is considered to be one Event.
- Trialling – Satisfactory trials count as an event and need to be taking into consideration when you’re nominating. Other club trials do not count as an event as they regarded as training.
- Racing – each event the greyhound starts in, including when race is declared a non-race.