RGRROP407A
Perform duties of thoroughbred race starter

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to safely and efficiently conduct thoroughbred race starts. It requires knowledge and skills associated with preparing for race starts, and working closely with other race meeting staff to start races and complete post-race activities, including the provision of reports to stewards and race club personnel.It requires the ability to oversee safe horse handling and apply workplace OHS standards.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing stables, racecourses and public areas.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application

This unit of competency supports licensed and registered personnel and others in the thoroughbred racing industry who may be required to act as starters for race meetings as part of their job function.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Prepare for race starts.

1. Race fields and distances are confirmed.

2. Past problems with particular horses during loading of barriers are noted.

3. Operation of barriers and other start equipment is confirmed prior to commencement of race meeting.

4. Contingency plans are arranged in case of malfunction in start equipment.

5. Rules of racing relating to starting a race are defined and complied with.

6. Hazards associated with the loading of barriers and race start are defined and strategies employed that minimise the risk of injury and comply with OHS and racing safe operating procedures .

7. Race meeting duties and instructions are allocated and relayed to staff.

Supervise pre-start activities.

8. Starters are verifiedand identified ,and approved gear and colours are noted.

9. Horses are sent to start under supervision of clerk of course.

10. Race start time is confirmed with stewards.

11. Order of loading barriers is determined and relayed to staff.

12. Barrier loading is performed within time and safety constraints using approved methods and personal protective equipment and with consideration to public perception of non-verbal signals and handling techniques.

13. Incidents are managed to minimise risk of injury to staff and horses and reported to stewards and veterinarian.

14. Non-starters are declared after conferring with stewards.

Start race and complete post-race activities.

15. Possible delay in race time is reported to stewards.

16. Race start permission is sought from stewards.

17. Race start is initiated as soon as starters are loaded and ready.

18. Feedback on staff performance is provided in a timely and positive manner.

19. Barrier loading and race start reports are presented to stewards.

20. Barrier or start equipment is checked for damage and/or maintenance requirements prior to shutting down.

21. Repairs or maintenance requirements are reported to race club.

Required Skills

Required skills

communicating with race meeting staff, stewards, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to thoroughbred racing starts

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

complying with animal welfare legislation

evaluating risks associated with race meeting starts and race day operations

giving evidence in racing inquiries and investigations

identifying individual horses using industry approved terminology, records and signalment

identifying injured or distressed horses that require assistance

making effective decisions and resolving routine problems within the bounds of the duties and responsibilities of a race meeting starter

operating starting equipment

overseeing safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses

reading and interpreting racing documents relating to race distances, race fields, track conditions, horse identification and performance records

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including rules of racing and starting procedures

recognising damaged or defective gear

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

reporting incidents to stewards in a timely manner

resolving disputes according to thoroughbred racing protocols and procedures

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

working in a high pressure environment

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

approved gear

common features of injury, illness and distress in horses

communication procedures within the race meeting and wider racing industry

equipment used in work role and the procedures for its operation and maintenance

horse handling and controlling techniques

OHS and environmental legislative requirements

organisational policies and procedures

positive and effective communication strategies used to work with a team, deal with conflicts and resolve disputes

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

range of behaviour traits exhibited by horses

relevant rules of racing

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when starting thoroughbred races

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race starting operations

working with others to undertake and complete the required procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.

Context of, and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

a variety of thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to start thoroughbred races

safe handling and approved race starting and associated facilities

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

RGRCMN001A Comply with the rules of racing and related protocols.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Past problems with particular horses during loading may include:

horse:

attempts to burrow under or climb gates

charges forward

pulls sideways

rears

is reluctant to move forward and requires barrier blanket.

Operation of barriers and other start equipment check may include:

battery

communication system between starter and driver

damage

electrical

front and rear gates

fuel

lights

power steering fluid

tractor oil and water

transmission fluid

tyre pressure

water.

Rules of racing in relation to race starts may include:

ahead of advertised start time

barrier positions for unruly horses

defer or delay start

horse denied fair start

horse unfit

non-starter

order of placing at barrier

rider disobedience

riderless on jumping

starter's orders

starter's powers.

Hazards associated with start of the race may include:

broken start equipment

disruption at barrier

gear breakage

injury to staff, rider or horse

non-compliance of riders.

OHS and racing safe operating procedures may include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue

considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe work practices

following accident and injury procedures

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying race start hazards

identifying emergency situations

understanding individual horse behaviour

wearing approved personal protective equipment.

Duties and instructions relayed to staff may include:

climbing barrier

holding horses

loading horses

reminding staff of high visibility of actions due to televised barrier loading

shutting gates

walking horses.

Horses are identified by:

brands

colours

gender

markings.

Approved gear may include:

bandages

bits

blinkers

boots

breastplates

bridles

crossover nosebands

girths

pacifiers

reins

rings

saddles

shadow roll

stirrup leathers

surcingles

tongue ties.

Barrier loading may include:

applying cane under starter's instruction

applying barrier blanket

applying blindfold

applying twitch

assuming correct position to assist jockey in barrier

adjusting or removing gear

communicating with other team members to complete tasks

climbing barrier and moving to horse's head to take control

closing gates of stalls correctly

exiting barrier safely, quickly and efficiently

fitting correct items of gear

identifying non-approved gear

lifting tail to prevent horse flipping

leading horse forward into barrier correctly

linking arms to move horse forward

pushing horse sideways

straddling barrier safely to control horse.

Reports are presented to stewards and race club:

maintaining confidentiality and discretion

promptly, courteously and efficiently

using correct forms of greeting

via verbal and/or written communication including:

describing actions

giving and receiving clear, accurate and simple messages

listening to and interpreting information and instructions

written reports may include simple documents and notes.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Thoroughbred racing code


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor