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THE NATIONAL SPRINT RACING ASSOCIATION

In summary, the National Sprint Racing Association (NSRA) is a Limited Liability Company established to provide a democratic framework for the national administration of the Australian Sprint Racing Industry. After some years as an informal association, the NSRA incorporated as a limited liability non profit company in 2006.

The NSRA structure provides for a single control body in each State or Territory which conducts sanctioned racing under an agreement with the NSRA.  Other clubs can be formed and affiliated with the NSRA in each State but will fall administratively below the control body organisation.  This is the administrative model favoured by government if a wagering product is to eventuate on Sprint Racing.

NSRA Affiliated organisations include Alternate Racing Queensland (ARQ) and the Goulburn Sprint Racing Club in NSW.  One new group in QLD has also had informal discussions regarding forming a new race club which they see as affiliating with the NSRA.

Members of each type of state organisation are also “members” of the NSRA and are covered by the NSRA national insurance policy.  Public Liability cover is provided for racing including racing with wagering., Personal Accident cover for Licensed Persons is currently being negotiated and Workcover requirements are required to be met in each jurisdiction.

We are building a self sustaining professional industry with no formal links to any other Sprint or TB Racing organisation in Australia.  There are no plans to prevent our members or Licensed Persons from competing in other forms of racing for other than legislative or probity reasons.

The NSRA has no formal ties with any breed society, but wish to establish working relationships for enforcement of integrity and probity.  Where practicable we will seek affiliation with organisations like the AQHA or develop a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the relationship.

The NSRA developed from and has continued the work of previous national organisations which were largely associated with the Australian Quarter Horse Association (1999 AQHA Sprint Racing Advisory Committee & 2001 AQHA Racing Division).

We have maintained discussions since 2002 with Government Officials, the Thoroughbred Industry and like minded Sprint Racing Industry participants in QLD, NSW, Victoria, SA and the ACT.  These discussions have been targeted at developing co-operative arrangements with the TB Industry.

This approach was based around recommendations of the NSRA/NARA funded IASP Consultancy Report on the Australian Alternate Racing Industry which was conducted during 2002 – 2003.  The report effectively concluded that the Australian Sprint Racing Industry was unlikely to be able to sustain itself as a national stand alone industry.  Subsequent cost increases relating to complying with safety standards alone have shown this to be a sound conclusion.

The NSRA has maintained a continuous dialogue with the Australian Racing Board (ARB) and were involved in discussions leading to the amendment of Australian Rule of Racing AR6 which now allows Thoroughbred Licensed Persons to participate in racing conducted by “recognised” alternate racing organisations.

The NSRA is the national peak organisation for Australian Sprint Racing, recognised by the TB Industry and Government in NSW & QLD and having similar status in Victoria although we have not sought formal recognition in that jurisdiction.   We also communicate regularly with the SA Government.

The NSRA is currently the only organisation approved to sanction or conduct racing in QLD and NSW.

The NSRA , as the national peak body, has dealings at a Federal level with The Department of Industry Tourism & Research, The Department of Transport & Regional Services, The Department of Education, Science & Training and The Australian Tax Office.  We have also had discussions with the TAFE community regarding training for industry participants and the national TB Jockey and Trainers Associations regarding insurance and safety issues. 

One NSRA Board member was appointed to the Federal Government Equine Insurance Task Force and the NSRA, NARA and the Goulburn Sprint Racing Club each lodged submissions on Sprint Racing to that national enquiry.

On the recommendation of the QLD Government the NSRA provided a Director to the Board of the ARQ.  The ARQ has since developed written agreements with the QLD Government and Queensland Racing Board (QRB) relating to NSRA sanctioned ARQ racing in QLD.  Regrettably this initiative has not progressed as well as it should have, but will be pursued when NSW is bedded down.

The NSRA offers the Australian Sprint Racing Industry:

• An administration system that is democratically based – any single organisation acting as a control body to conduct Sprint Racing in an Australian state or territory under NSRA sanctioned systems can provide a Director to the NSRA Board
• Access to TB race tracks for both racing and training in most jurisdictions
• National Racing Rules based on the TB ARB Rules, with minor amendments to suit Sprint Racing and already approved by government as suitable to conduct racing with wagering
• National Racehorse Identity Systems based around DNA verified breed society requirements to meet government standards for racing with wagering – it should be noted this is not a Stud Book
• National Licensing Systems which provide a national training regime to ensure minimum industry standards are met in relation to safety and integrity, again meeting government requirements for a recognised racing code
• National Form Recording systems to ensure competitors and participants are known factors in a racing system with high levels of integrity
• Written advice, policies and assistance relating to the consistent professional implementation of Sprint Racing in Australia
• A single voice to represent the Australian Sprint Racing Industry

The NSRA is happy to provide any or all of these services to any organisation wishing to conduct sanctioned Sprint Racing in Australia under an agreement with the NSRA.

The services provided by the NSRA are those required by government if the Australian Sprint Racing Industry is to develop into a genuine Code of Racing.  The services are designed to ensure that minimum standards are met in relation to safety and integrity and that a suitable and consistent risk management regime is in place.

The services are backed by a wide range of policy documents which include:

• Race day Administration
• Duties of Officials
• Drug Testing
• Financial Management
• Integrity
• Conduct
• Sexual Harassment
• Risk Assessment
• Animal Welfare
• Heat exhaustion
• Stable Management
• Race Club Record Keeping

The NSRA is working in a co-operative relationship with the Thoroughbred community.  The Sprint Racing product being developed on Thoroughbred race tracks is seen as complimentary to the Thoroughbred Racing product and has been welcomed in most regional communities as a boost to the sustainability of country racing.  The arrangements are mutually beneficial and certainly advantageous to the Sprint Racing Industry while we grow.

This in itself does not guarantee Sprint Racing is suddenly an acceptable activity within the wider TB Racing Industry, but does open the door for the Sprint Racing Industry to demonstrate that we can provide a professionally administered product.

While co operative arrangements exist with the TB Industry, the NSRA has maintained “ownership” of Product, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Administrative rights and the separate identity of Sprint Racing from other codes of racing.  This provides a structure for the long term implementation of a stand alone sprint racing industry.

There are developments currently being initiated by the NSRA in QLD, Victoria, NSW and the ACT while further discussions with the ARB, Commonwealth Departments, Industry Associations etc continue in an effort to better utilise resources that are already available to the wider racing industry.