Lambourn provides training facilities for over 25 trainers. During each month over 500 horses exercise on the facilities each day along with their numerous riders. Every trainer, whether he or she has 5 horses or 150 horses, has the same facilities available to him/her, and is treated in exactly the same way. The Rules and Regulations laid out in this section are sensibly but rigorously enforced and exist for two main reasons:
- the health and safety of riders and horses
- protection of the facilities and especially of the turf
RULES TO BE OBSERVED WITH USING THE JOCKEY CLUB ESTATES LIMITED TRAINING GROUNDS AT LAMBOURN
DEFINITIONS
Throughout these Rules, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meaning hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say:
BHA means the British Horseracing Authority
BHA Permit means the permit granted by the BHA under part 5 of the Rules of Racing
Board means the Directors for the time being of Jockey Club Estates Limited
Company means Jockey Club Estates Limited
Gallops Tax means such monthly charge as may be determined by the Board from time to time for use of Lambourn Training Grounds.
JCE Permit means the written authorisation of the Directors of Jockey Club Estates Limited to use the land belonging to or in its occupation for the purposes of training and exercising horses.
Managing Director means the Managing Director of Jockey Club Estates Limited
Owner means the Owner or Owners of racehorses which use the Training Grounds
Return means the form to be completed by each Trainer pursuant to Rule 11.2
Rules means any rule made by or on behalf of the Directors of Jockey Club Estates Limited for the use and management of the land in their occupation
Rules of Racing means the current edition of the Rules of Racing as published by the BHA
Trainer means any person who holds a Licence or Permit to train from the BHA and shall include the servants or agents of such a person, or any person permitted to use the Training Grounds by order of the Managing Director of the Company
Trainer’s Staff means any person who is employed by the Trainer or who works for the Trainer on a voluntary basis in the course of his or her training activities, or any person who is contracted to work for the Trainer
Training Grounds or Grounds means all the land, premises, and equipment belonging to or in the occupation of the Company at Lambourn
The Board may at any time and at its absolute discretion alter, amend, or replace any or all of these Rules.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Use of the Training Grounds
1.1.1 The Training Grounds are the freehold and leasehold property of the Company and are available, subject to compliance with the Rules set out below, and the Rules of Racing for the training of racehorses.
1.1.2 It is the responsibility of the Trainer to ensure that all members of the Trainer’s Staff and any person who may be on the Training Grounds at his or her request, or with his or her authority, shall comply at all times with these Rules and with the Rules of Racing.
1.1.3 It is the responsibility of the Trainer to ensure that any Owner for whom he or she is training is aware of these Rules and agrees to them in so far as they may be relevant to such owner before any racehorse in his or her ownership is taken onto the Training Grounds.
2 Compliance with the Rules of Racing
2.1 As set out in 1.1.2 above, it is the duty of the Trainer to require compliance with the Rules of Racing by all members of his or her staff. This is essential to ensure safe use of the Training Grounds. In the event of any incidents of non-compliance by the Trainer or any member of his/her staff the Trainer shall be held responsible by the Company and the sanctions set out in clause 14 of these Rules shall apply.
3. Code of Good Conduct
3.1 Schedule 1 to these Rules sets out matters of Good Conduct which the Company advises the Trainer to apply.
4. Accident / Emergency Procedure
4.1 Schedule 2 to these Rules sets out the Accident / Emergency Procedure. A copy of Schedule 2 is to be supplied by every Trainer to all members of his staff, and it is the responsibility of the Trainer to ensure that all members of staff have read and understood the Accident / Emergency Procedure.
5. Compliance with Health and Safety Requirements and Other Regulatory Maters
5.1 Each Trainer is required by the Rules of Racing to have and to apply a Health and Safety Policy. If the Company becomes aware of any breach of this requirement it may prohibit the Trainer from use of the Training Grounds until such breach is rectified.
6. USE OF THE TRAINING GROUNDS
6.1 Opening Times
6.1.1. The Company uses its best endeavours to ensure that the Training Grounds where open are safe but particular care should always be taken in use of the Training Grounds. Use of the Training Grounds is only permitted during the times specified here.
6.1.1.1 7 February to 16 November 6.30 am
6.1.1.2 17 November to 6 February 7 am
6.1.2 Horses may enter the Training Grounds prior to these times to use the horsewalks only and must be accompanied by at least one other horse and rider. Cantering or galloping is forbidden on the horsewalks.
6.2 Other use of the Training Grounds earlier than 6.30 am in the period 7th February to 16th November can be made if written permission has been given by the Company prior to such use. However, in no circumstances will such permission be granted for use prior to daylight hours and the terms of any permission given must be strictly adhered to.
6.3 The areas of the Training Grounds that are open on any given day are indicated on the Gallops Board outside Jockey Club Estates Office at Limes Farm but will be subject to alteration at any time as a consequence of bad weather or other emergency. An electronic Gallops Board will be available on the Company’s website. Every effort will be made to indicate any changes during the evening previous to the Grounds being available for use.
While the Company endeavours to ensure that various systems of declaring Ground open or closed are correct, if Ground is declared open on any Gallops Board, on the Company’s website, or has been indicated as open by the text message service, if a closed board is in place on the Gallop or Canter itself that Ground shall be treated as closed ground.
6.4 Closing Times
6.4.1 Artificial gallops and canters close at 1:00 pm each weekday and turf facilities at 4.00 pm.
6.4.2 The Training Grounds close on Saturdays at 1:00 pm and on Sundays at 12.00 noon.
6.4.3 Artificial gallops and canters will be closed during daily maintenance periods and should be considered as closed ground at these times.
6.5 Closed Ground
6.5.1 No Trainer may exercise his horses on ground that is closed or move any disc, pole, bush, “closed” board, or other thing used for defining the ground and it shall be the responsibility of every Trainer on each day to ensure that he and his staff are fully informed as to which ground is closed and which is open and for what purpose. Trainers ignoring “closed” boards will be subject to the sanctions set out in clause 14.
6.5.2 No person may walk or stand any horse (except Trainers’ hacks) on the gallops or exercise any horse across closed grounds.
6.5.3 Horses must not be galloped or cantered across closed ground.
6.5.4 Head lads in charge of horses (except in the absence of the Trainer) must not walk their horses upon closed ground.
6.6 Use of All Weather Schooling Strip
6.6.1 Trainers wishing to use the All Weather Schooling Strip must notify their intention to do so by phoning the Operations Manager not later than 2pm on the day preceding use. Details of the time and type of fences required (French hurdles or intermediate fences) should be given in that notice.
7. Hacks
7.1 Only two hacks are allowed to walk on the grass when accompanying a string. Any additional hack or pony must walk on the walking grounds.
7.2 It is prohibited for Trainers or their Representatives to canter or gallop hacks on The Long.
7.3 Hacks crossing any area recently repaired or re-seeded or closed ground may do so at a walk only.
8. General
8.1 No Trainer may canter or gallop horses except upon those Training Grounds indicated as open for such work and within the limits and in the directions set by the Board. No cantering will be allowed on grounds especially reserved for galloping.
8.2 Every Trainer must ensure that horses on completing their work walk at once to the nearest walking ground and remain on the walking grounds provided.
8.3 No racehorses or hacks may be left loose upon the Training Grounds.
8.4 Speed
8.4.1 No vehicles may be driven at speeds in excess of 20 MPH anywhere on the Training Grounds.
8.4.2 Without prejudice to Rule 8.4.1 above vehicles travelling uphill only on the Kingsdown gulpla vehicle track may travel at speeds up to a maximum of 35 MPH when trainers are watching their own horses working. Vehicles travelling downhill on the gulpla track should give way to vehicles travelling uphill.
8.5 No vehicles are permitted on walk-back tracks.
8.5 Any dogs taken onto the Training Grounds before 1:00 pm on any day, including Sundays, must be on a lead at all times.
9. Practice Starting Stalls
9.1 Practice Starting Stalls should be booked on the day prior to use by telephoning the relevant Foreman. If Trainers wish to use the Stalls without having booked the prior day, they may do so by filling in a vacant time slot on the sheet provided at each set of Stalls. No Trainer may occupy the Stalls for more than one and a half hours at a time. The Stalls will not be operated by the Company’s staff.
9.2 Any person operating the stalls must have appropriate training and equipment, and the use of the stalls must be risk assessed by each trainer who makes use of them prior to use.
10. Permit to Train - A JCE PERMIT
10.1 Every Trainer who wishes to train or exercise horses on the Training Grounds must first hold a current licence or BHA Permit granted under Part 5 of the Rules of Racing. Any such Trainer must comply fully with all requirements of the Rules of Racing. On application to the Company a JCE Permit to train on the Training Grounds may, at the Company’s absolute discretion, be granted.
10.2 The JCE Permit specifying the number of horses permitted to be taken onto the Training Grounds shall be valid for such period as the Board shall in its absolute discretion fix and shall in any case be revocable upon three months’ written notice by the Board.
10.3 Every JCE Permit granted to a Trainer by the Board shall be subject to the Rules and it is a condition of each Permit that the Trainer to whom the JCE Permit is granted shall obey the Rules.
11. GALLOPS TAX AND RETURNS
11.1 Every Owner shall pay to the Company such fees as the Board shall from time to time determine in respect of Gallops Tax for every horse and every yearling that shall be trained or broken at Lambourn on the Training Grounds and it is incumbent on the Trainer to make every new Owner aware of the existence and scale of the charge (see also Clause 11.4).
11.2 Contents of Return
11.2.1 Every Trainer to whom a JCE Permit has been granted shall on the last day of each month make a Return to the Company of all the horses under his care which have been out on the Training Grounds during that month (or part of that month), and any Trainer who fails to make a true Return may have his JCE Permit withdrawn under the provisions hereof.
11.2.2 The Return shall list all horses by name save for those horses which have not yet been named, which shall be listed as un-named horses.
11.2.3 Horses trained for steeplechase and hurdle races must be indicated by the word “jump” beside their names.
11.2.4 A horse for which exemption from Gallops Tax is claimed under clause 11.7 must be indicated by the word “apprentices” after its name.
11.2.5 Returns must be completed legibly and the Owner’s percentage interest entered.
11.3 Every Trainer’s Return must be received at the Jockey Club Estates’ Head office in Newmarket within five working days after the month end.
11.4 Trainers are advised that all Owners with horses in their yards should have a Weatherbys Account through which Gallops Tax can be paid.
11.5 Any Owner who fails to pay the Gallops Tax may have his horse or horses banned from using the Training Grounds, and in addition the amount of such Gallops Tax shall be a debt due from the Owner to the Company and shall be recoverable by action.
11.6 The payment of Gallops Tax shall not be deemed to confer on any person paying the same any legal right which shall interfere with or be inconsistent with the absolute right of the Company to possession and ownership of the Training Grounds and the absolute right of the Company to use or develop the Training Grounds in any way it sees fit.
11.7 Every Trainer who has been granted a JCE Permit is allowed to have one horse - his own exclusive property - trained on the Training Grounds free of Gallops Tax provided that such horse is ridden by the Trainer’s apprentices only and provided further that if such horse is raced and is not ridden by the Trainer’s apprentices the Trainer shall be liable for the full Gallops Tax unless the Board resolves otherwise.
12. Exclusion of liability
12.1 Any Trainer using the Training Grounds or equipment owned by or in the occupation of the Company does so at his own risk, and neither the Company nor the Board or its servants or agents shall be liable in respect of any loss or damage to any person, animal or property, and whether occasioned by negligence, breach of duty, or howsoever otherwise. Nothing in this clause shall be construed as excluding liability for personal injury or death caused by the Company’s negligence.
13. DUTY TO INDEMNIFY THE COMPANY
13.1 Every Trainer using the Training Grounds shall keep the Company and the Board, its servants and agents, indemnified against any action, claim, loss, costs or demands arising from his use of the Training Grounds.
14. Breach of rules
14.1 The Board may at any time and without prior notice withdraw a JCE Permit from any Trainer who in the opinion of the Board shall have broken any of these Rules or who shall have been declared a disqualified person or otherwise penalised by the BHA in accordance with their powers under the Rules of Racing or who for any reason shall have his Trainer’s Licence withdrawn or revoked or refused renewal by the BHA or such other succeeding body.
14.2 Any Trainer who as a result of breach of any of these Rules has his JCE Permit revoked or who is reported to the Directors of the Company for any breach of these Rules may as a condition of the restoration of his Permit or the lifting of any ban be required to pay to the Company such sum as in the opinion of the Managing Director or other members of the Board shall be appropriate by way of penalty having regard to the breach in question, not exceeding £5,000, but nothing hereunder shall entitle any person to demand the renewal of a JCE Permit or the lifting of a ban which may be withheld at discretion and as of right. A system of automatic penalties has been introduced as under:
14.2.1 First deliberate offence Written warning and fine.
14.2.2 Second deliberate offence The Board or its Chairman may warn the Trainer off the Training Grounds, including the horsewalks, for four days.
14.2.3 Third deliberate offence The Board or its Chairman may warn the Trainer off the Training Grounds, including the horsewalks, for 14 days.
14.2.4 Fourth deliberate offence The Board or its Chairman may withdraw the Trainer’s JCE Permit to use the Training Grounds.
14.3 A Trainer may appeal to the Board of Directors of the Company against any fine or penalty imposed by the Managing Director.
14.4 The Board hereby reserves the right in its absolute discretion to publish in the Racing Calendar and in any newspaper circulating in the United Kingdom and through any news agency operating in the United Kingdom its decisions on any breach of any condition, regulation or Rule contained herein and all other reports, decisions and minutes of its meetings.
15. Procedure for complaint
15.1 No Trainer may give any order to the Company’s staff. Any Trainer wishing to suggest any alteration in the Training Grounds arrangements should do so in writing to the Gallops Operations Manager, the Managing Director or Chairman of the Gallops Committee.
15.2 All complaints must be in writing, signed by the complainant, and addressed to the Managing Director or Chairman of the Gallops Committee. Complaints in any other form will not be considered.
SCHEUDLE 1: CODE OF GOOD CONDUCT
INTRODUCTION
Good manners make life easier for everyone, and in order to make the Training Grounds an ordered, safe and enjoyable place to work, trainers and their staff are advised to follow this Code of Good Conduct at all times. The Code has been drawn up by Jockey Club Estates in consultation with the Chairman of the Heath Committee and Chairman of Newmarket Trainers’ Federation in Newmarket and the Chairman of the Mandown Gallops Committee.
1. Staff
1.1 All staff, and especially head lads and grooms, should be aware of and fully understand the Rules for use of the Training Grounds and this Code of Good Conduct.
1.2 It is mandatory under the Rules of Racing for all riders to wear skull caps and for all riders, other than those on hacks, to wear back protectors. In poor visibility conditions (through poor light or fog), riders and horses should wear reflective clothing or equipment.
1.3 No rider should smoke while on the Training Grounds.
1.4 Whilst mobile phones are an important tool in an emergency, no rider should use a mobile phone unless it is in relation to his/her job at the time.
1.5 Riders should remain quiet unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
2 String Management
2.1 Strings should be of a manageable size with an appropriate number of experienced staff in supervisory roles.
2.2 No string should pass another string from behind while on the horsewalks.
2.3 One string should not cut in front of another string at any time and particularly one about to set off on a gallop or canter.
2.4 Lead riders should communicate the string’s intentions clearly to other strings.
2.5 Strings should not set off too closely behind the preceding string. The following string should judge the speed of a preceding string to avoid catching it up.
2.6 Use of the Training Grounds by lone horses should be avoided. If unavoidable, the Trainer must be aware of the route the rider is to take and raise the alarm if he or she does not return to the yard at the expected time.
3 Road Crossings
3.1 An unmounted member of staff should assist strings crossing public roads, or be in advance of his or her string on a sensible horse or hack. Anyone stopping traffic should wear a reflective vest, even in full daylight.
3.2 No more than 20 horses should cross the road at one time without breaking to allow vehicles to pass. Smaller strings should avoid tacking onto the end of larger strings.
3.3 Riders should not assume that vehicles have seen them and will stop. Riders should wait until an approaching vehicle has come to a stop before walking onto the crossing.
3.4 Where triggers operate flashing warning lights or traffic lights, these should be armed prior to crossing and disarmed after crossing.
3.5 As many riders as possible should thank waiting drivers, but as a minimum the first and last riders in the string.
4 Stalls
4.1 If using any of the stalls provided, leave them unset and with gates open.
4.2 On stalls with corrals, shut the corral gate after use.
4.3 Report any breakages of the stalls to the Gallops Manager or relevant Heath Foreman.
5 Fences, hurdles and other equipment
5.1 If you damage fences, hurdles or any other equipment on the training grounds, please report it to a member of JCE staff so that it can be repaired as soon as possible.
PLEASE USE COMMONSENSE AND BE COURTEOUS AT ALL TIMES
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION
SCHEDULE 2: ACCIDENT PROCEDURE ON LAMBOURN TRAINING GROUNDS
1. GENERAL
1.1 Working with racehorses is potentially hazardous.
1.2 Racehorses are unpredictable and can be dangerous.
1.3 In offering training facilities to racehorses the JCE accepts that you are exposed to this risk.
1.4 To limit the possibility of harm to you or to anyone else who visits or has access to JCE training grounds, the Board have issued the Rules which are acknowledged and agreed by all trainers who use the training grounds and which contain safety recommendations which have to be followed.
1.5 These Rules, which contain the recommendations, are also displayed on the information boards in the JCE office at Limes Farm.
2. WHAT TO DO IF THERE HAS BEEN AN ACCIDENT
2.1 If an accident occurs on the training grounds and there is injury to a rider or anyone else the following applies:
2.1.1 Accident Response
2.1.1.1 Call the emergency services immediately.
2.1.1.2 Inform the Gallops Operations Manager.
Relevant Telephone Numbers
Emergency Services: 999
Operations Manager: Will Riggall (07917 655326)
2.1.2 Accident Report
2.1.2.1 This should be clear, simple, and contain the following information:
? The exact location of the injured person, preferably by reference to the Training Grounds Safety Plan; otherwise by reference to the nearest road and gate access and appropriate directions.
? The nature of the accident - crushed / kicked, etc - and the assessment of its severity - loss of consciousness, broken limb, etc.
? Personal details of the casualty.
2.1.3 Accident Procedure
2.1.3.1 If there is immediate concern over injury advice and assistance must be obtained from the emergency service through the emergency telephone number.
2.1.3.2 Injured riders should only be moved on the advice of the emergency service.
If in doubt do not move an injured person.
2.1.3.3 Do not remove helmet or back protectors without seeking advice.
2.1.3.4 Place in the recovery position and await help.
2.1.3.4 If the accident involves a horse which is now loose, gallopsmen will:
? Require the trainer / staff to secure the animal.
? Redirect horse traffic from the scene.
? Close the area to training near the accident and nearest point of access to the injured party.
? Post a person to the first access point to assist the ambulance service.
2.1.4 Accident Record
2.1.4.1 Those in attendance at the accident will be expected to give a brief report of the circumstances to the Operations Manager.
3. If an accident occurs on the training grounds which involves the injury or death of a horse
The following applies:
3.1 Accident Response
3.1.1 The Trainer’s obligation is to respond and make arrangements in the case of an accident and he or she must inform the Operations Manager.
3.1.2 In the absence of the Trainer or his/her representative any employee of JCE who is at the accident will inform the Operations Manager.
Relevant Telephone Numbers
Vet: O’Gorman Slate & Main (01635 47170)
Ridgeway Veterinary Group (01488 71999)
Equine Disposal Team: Knacker Man (01488 71432)
3.2 Accident Report
3.2.1 This should give the exact location by reference to the Training Ground Safety Plan as issued; otherwise by reference to the nearest road and gate access.
3.2.2. The nature of the injury and whether the horse is loose or restrained.
3.2.3 Trainers and their staff will do all that is reasonably practical to restrain an injured horse until the arrival of veterinary assistance.
3.3 Accident Procedure
3.2.1 Gallopsmen will redirect horse traffic from the scene.
3.2.2 If there is an injured animal they will close the area to training near the accident.
3.2.3 Post a person at the first access point to assist veterinary services on arrival.
3.4 Accident Record
3.4.1 Those in attendance will be expected to make a brief report of the circumstances to the Operations Manager.