Changes of certain gear on harness racehorses will be required to be notified at all times under a remit passed at the conference of harness racing clubs at the weekend.
Approved gear will be split into notifiable and non-notifiable gear. The gear on the notifiable list will be required to be advised to the governing body, Harness Racing New Zealand, whenever there is a change.
Changes in approved gear are only required under the present rules within a 12-day racing period.
The notifiable list will relate essentially to gear used around the ears and eyes of the horse such as blinds, hood, earplugs and pacifier.
The non-notifiable list will include such items as bits, boots, spreaders, bandages and tail ties.
The change in the regulations was proposed by the executive.
"The aim is to ensure that significant gear changes are advised to the public and detailed in racing publications," HRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell said.
"We will need to build up a database of gear being worn by horses and it could be April 1 before we have the system up and working."
A proposal that horses race in the colours of drivers, rather than trainers, did not meet support.
The proposal, considered under correspondence, came from the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders' Association.
It was based on the widespread use of drivers' colours in the United States and Europe.
• Sleepy Bob, a 9yr-old pacer with a record of three wins in five starts, has been entered for the Rangiora meeting on Sunday.
He has not raced since January, 2007.
"He has had a few problems and the latest was his back but I feel I have got on top of it with a special blanket," Russell Kennedy, his Riccarton owner- trainer, said.
Sleepy Bob bowed a tendon as a 2yr-old and a fractured splint bone at four delayed his entry to racing until he was 6.
He had one start before he was sidelined with damage to an elbow.
He won at Addington (twice) and Rangiora and finished second in four starts at seven.
• Delcola, the five-win trotting mare, is now in the Woodend Beach stable of David and Catherine Butt.
The 7yr-old mare has won five races in Southland, the first for Tony Barron and four for Wyndham trainers Ivan Gutsell and Megan Irvine.
• Sir Artsplace, the winner of six races, has been sold to Perth, our Christchurch correspondent reports.
Sir Artsplace was trained at Rangiora by Ken Odgers.
The Artsplace gelding won at Addington as a 2yr-old.
His other wins were as a 3yr-old last season at Addington (twice), Ashburton, Rangiora and Methven.
Roburascal and Smoke N Mirrors are other well performed pacers for Odgers sold overseas.
• Rohan Home stamped himself as the horse to beat in $A180,000 Breeders' Crown final next Sunday with an impressive win in a semifinal at Bendigo on Saturday night, AAP reports.
The Paul Fitzpatrick trained gelding ran the fastest time of the two semifinals as he stretched his winning streak to five.
He rated 1.57.2 for the 2150m (mobile).
Maffioso rated 2.01.5 in the other semifinal.
Rohan Home has won 10 win of his 14 starts.
The semifinals for 3yr-old fillies were won by Muscle Beach and Kept For Pleasure.
