Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to prepare for race driving, identify and practise race driving skills, follow rules of racing, read and interpret form, and research and observe race meeting procedures and protocols.

To undertake this unit the candidate will be able to apply safe horse handling skills and 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 of the unit 

This unit of competency supports harness drivers preparing to accept race drives.

Prerequisite units 

RGRPSH402A

Drive horses in pacework and fast work

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 

Research race information, rules and protocols.

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

2. Factors that can affect race outcomes are identified.

3. Reports  on trackwork, and trial and race performance are interpreted.

4. Race nominations, acceptances and scratching procedures are researched.

5. Plans are prepared to identify stages of the race for individual horses based on racing style  and previous form.

6. Procedures for applying for a license  to drive in races are investigated.

Demonstrate driving skills.

7. Rules related to safe and legal race driving are known and observed during practice.

8. Driving skills for standing starts  are demonstrated.

9. Driving skills for mobile starts  are demonstrated.

10. Driving skills in a field of horses  are demonstrated.

11. Skills for pushing out  are demonstrated.

12. Techniques for emergency evasive action are known and described.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with horses
• assessing track shape and surface
• communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to preparing to drive horses
• completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame
• driving techniques for standing starts, mobile starts and driving in a field of horses
• following instructions
• identifying and correctly using different items of gear and equipment and assessing condition of same in terms of safe use and need for repair
• identifying and interpreting industry jargon and abbreviations
• observing pre and post-race procedures
• predicting horse location within race field during stages of a race using previous form
• reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing
• relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• researching classes of races.

Required knowledge 

• classes of races
• communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry
• drug testing procedures
• industry terminology related to handling and racing horses
• permits and license requirements to drive in races
• potential race problems and suitable evasive action techniques
• purpose of using appropriate personal protective equipment
• race nomination, acceptance and scratching documents and procedures
• racing industry animal welfare requirements
• racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures
• rules of racing.

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 preparing to drive in races
• demonstration of driving skills for standing and mobile starts, driving in a field and applying push out techniques
• implementation of procedures and timely techniques to safely, effectively and efficiently complete preparation for race driving tasks
• interpreting documentation and other sources of racing information to evaluate and assess individual horse's expected performance in a race
• working with others to undertake and complete preparation for race driving tasks that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of horses of different ages and sexes, in different circumstances and in different racing stable and track environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to horses that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing stable under the care of a licensed trainer and 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.

This unit is largely practical in nature. Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

• a variety of harness horses that are currently in training
• commercial racing training establishments, and training and racetracks
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's skills related to preparing for race driving
• 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, 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 harness racing industry to assess the skills required to prepare for race driving. Workplaces include harness stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Industry jargon and abbreviations  will include:

• terminology related to:

• action and behaviour of horses during race
• age and experience of horses
• inquiries into the running of races
• position in a race
• protests
• race classes
• race finish position of runners
• race incidents
• stages of a race
• track conditions.

Factors that can affect race outcomes  may include:

• barrier draws
• fitness of horse and level of education
• interference
• race strategies
• race tempo
• wheels locking.

Reports  may include:

• form guides
• form reports produced by specialists
• internet
• live race observations
• race books
• steward reports
• verbal reports from drivers, trainers or others
• videos.

Individual horse's racing style  may include:

• coming from behind
• first up race form
• front runners
• number of starts per preparation
• score-up and start manners
• sprint and staying race behaviour.

Applying for a license  may include:

• age of applicant
• driving skill assessments
• license class requirements.

Rules related to safe and legal race driving  may include:

• careless, improper, incompetent or foul driving
• crossing only when clear of other horses
• drug testing procedures for drivers and horses
• keeping horse straight
• driving horse calmly and safely to and from race stalls
• principles of animal welfare
• whip use.

Standing starts  will include:

• balance and control of horse and sulky prior to start
• complying with clerk of course and starter's directions
• control and balance at release of starting stands
• adjusting gait in case of horse breaking
• gaining a field position.

Mobile starts  will include:

• score-up procedure prior to start
• complying with clerk of course and starter's directions
• control and balance at release of starting gate
• adjusting gait in case of horse breaking
• gaining a field position.

Driving in a field of horses  will include:

• maintaining a safe distance from other horses when:

• behind horse in front
• crossing horse
• side by side.

Pushing out  will include:

• adhering to rules of racing relating to push outs
• applying safe pushing out techniques.

Unit Sector 

Harness racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services