Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to conduct procedures related to pre and post-race checks of a range of written documentation and audio or visual records to analyse race performance. It requires knowledge of rules of racing, training practices, track design and ratings, and verbal and written communication skills to ensure adequate gathering of information. It also requires an ability to work with other team members in order to verify factors that may affect animal performance.

This unit of competency operates in workplace environments of racing administration, stables, racecourses and public areas.

Greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing is strictly regulated throughout Australia. All stewards are appointed under the rules of racing by the relevant racing controlling body. All handicappers are officials appointed by racing licensing bodies. For this reason enrolment in this unit of competency is restricted to people currently employed as a stipendiary or cadet steward or those who have been approved by a State Principal Racing Authority to undertake this unit.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports stipendiary stewards, race handicappers, and other nominated persons in determining, collecting and organising information to effectively analyse race performances of greyhounds and harness or thoroughbred horses.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the greyhound, harness or thoroughbred code of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the greyhound code or the harness code or the thoroughbred code, and statements of attainment for this unit will reflect this distinction.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Read and interpret form.

1. Industry jargon and abbreviations used to describe action and performance are interpreted.

2. Reports on trackwork, trial and race performance are interpreted from a range of sources.

3. Speed maps  are interpreted and prepared using specified software.

Identify factors that can affect racing performance.

4. Track shape and design features are assessed for their impact on performance.

5. Track surfaces are assessed for their impact on performance.

6. Level of education and experience  of the horse are evaluated for their impact on performance.

7. Position in field during various stages of trackwork, trial or race is evaluated for advantage or disadvantage to race outcome.

Analyse performance in trackwork, trials and races.

8. Animals are identified  by barrier or box number, race or rug colours, and race number.

9. Position of individual animals during various stages of performance is identified.

10. Interference  during a performance is identified.

11. Loss or gaining of ground during a performance can be identified.

12. Other incidents  during performance can be identified and explained.

13. Reports on performance are presented in verbal and written form.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communicating with stewards, racing officials, and licensed and registered personnel using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to analysing race performance
• identifying industry requirements associated with trackwork, trialling and racing operations, including approved gear, saddlery or harness, and race or rug colours
• identifying individual animals by brand, colour, sex, and leg and face markings
• identifying fair and legal race strategies by observation of live racing or video examples
• providing clear and concise reports on race performance in verbal and written formats
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation and rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• recognising rapid alterations in an animal's position in race field
• teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks
• using video and DVD recording and re-play devices
• visual acuity to identify colours and individual animals
• written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge 

• communication procedures, including reporting lines within the workplace and wider racing industry
• effect of track conditions and ratings, course layout and rail placement on animal performance
• factors that affect greyhound or racehorse performance
• greyhound or horse's normal action and impaired action at different gaits and stages of exercise at critical control points during a race, including signs of fatigue or injury
• industry terminology related to race performance and wider racing industry
• procedures for operation and maintenance of equipment and technology
• race form, class structure and track ratings
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• greyhound or racehorse markings
• relevant rules of racing
• rules of racing relating to riders, drivers and trainers of animals involved in trackwork, trials and races.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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 analysing race performance
• demonstration in identifying effects on individual racing and trialling greyhounds or horses, including placement at beginning of race, changes in pace, position in running, and other factors affecting race performance
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of race analysis duties
• 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 race meeting 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 race meetings and training tracks
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to analyse race performance, including:

• stewards' reports
• race form
• race books
• videos and DVDs

• 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
• case studies covering a range of strategies and involving video footage from actual races, accompanied by race documentation such as form guides and stewards' reports.

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, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.

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

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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to analyse race performance. Workplaces include greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks and administration buildings.

Stewards oversee the conduct of all racing-related activities within the responsibilities and powers described under the rules of racing. The conditions under which this unit is delivered and assessed must take into consideration these powers and responsibilities. These powers and responsibilities are further described in the rules of racing for the relevant racing code. It is strongly recommended that training facilitators and learners refer to these powers and responsibilities as part of the range of conditions for all units covered in the steward specialist area of the Training Package.

Speed maps  may be prepared through use of:

• form guides
• race books and other form reviews, including:

• video replays of races, trials or trackwork

• stewards' reports.

Level of education and experience  may include:

• class or grading of race
• driver or rider error and experience
• greyhound or horse's age
• number of race starts and trial starts
• variety of tracks and track conditions.

Situations where animals are identified  include:

• at race meetings
• during trackwork
• via video replays.

Interference  may constitute:

• crowding
• crossing another greyhound or horse
• fighting (greyhounds)
• hampering
• jostling
• taking the running.

Other incidents  may include:

• careless riding
• changes in strategies
• failure to pursue the lure (greyhounds)
• gear usage
• injury in running
• lack of race fitness
• missing the start.

Unit Sector 

Greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing codes

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing common