France-Galop has put into place measures that will tighten the rules on team tactics of horses of the same ownership, according to Racing Post. An addition mad to the rules of racing prohibits a horse to make a move that “manifestly helps the progress of another runner in the same ownership.” The change brings the French rules on team tactics closer in line to those in Britain.
“The idea is not to ban pacemakers, but to tighten up the rules on what in Britain would be called team tactics,” Henri Pouret, France-Galop's director of regulation, told the trade daily. “The BHA has a section of its rules governing this but in France, the only criterion under which stewards could previously take action was if interference was caused. Now a jockey on a pacemaker must maintain the same line and not move in order to help a horse under the same ownership. Even without directly interfering with a rival, such a maneuver can indirectly impede others.”
Jockeys found guilty of breaching the rule will be liable for a penalty, but the horse benefitting from the movement will not be disqualified.
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