The long awaited, much anticipated so called “Black Box” has arrived with Harness Racing now being the first equine discipline in Ireland to introduce TCO2 prerace testing.
The Irish Harness Racing Association’s Integrity & Welfare Commission will commence this program at Dundalk Stadium on Sunday 4th June and this process is now being closely monitored by both the Turf Club Officials and the Irish Equine Centre.
It will see a curtailment of prerace workouts to restricted time frames which is a standard practice worldwide within the industry.
Workout times at Dundalk for 3 Yr Olds will be restricted to 12.45pm to 2.20pm and for PMU race horses will from 4.20pm to 5.20pm ONLY and horse must have clearance from race officials prior to workout.
The stable yard opens at 11.30 and all horses must be in the stable yard by 1.45pm, it is the responsibility of each trainer to ensure his/her horses are declared prior to entering the stable yard and all declarations must be completed by 1.45pm, telephone declarations will not be accepted and any infringements of the above may result in the scratching of horses.
