Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to safely and efficiently conduct harness 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 of the unit 

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

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 

Prepare for race starts.

1. Race fields, distances and start types are confirmed.

2. Past problems  with particular horses during race starts are noted.

3. Operation of mobile 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 start of a race are defined and strategies employed that minimise the risk of injury and comply with OHS and racing safe operating procedures  .

7. Race meeting protocols and instructions are relayed to mobile driver and other staff .

Start harness race using mobile barrier or standing start conditions.

8. Starters are verified and identified  and colours and approved gear  are noted.

9. Horses are sent to warm up.

10. Race start time is confirmed with stewards.

11. Horses are called to score-up under clerk of course supervision.

12. Drivers are requested to assume start positions within time and safety constraints.

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

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

15. Permission to start race is confirmed with stewards.

16. Race start is initiated and gates are operated once horse position is stable and at appropriate place on track for mobile barrier starts.

Complete post-race activities.

17. Score-up and start reports are provided  to stewards.

18. Notes on problems with starters are updated for personal records.

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

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

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

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 harness 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 harness 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 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 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 starting harness 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 harness horses
• materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to start harness 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 may include:

• horse:

• attempts to burrow
• charges forward
• pulls sideways
• rears
• is reluctant to move forward.

Operation of mobile and other start equipment  check will include:

• arms or wings of mobile start
• battery
• communication system between starter and driver
• damage
• fuel
• height of arms
• lights
• oil
• power steering fluid
• 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
• 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, driver or horse
• non-compliance of drivers.

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, including:

• ensuring mobile start vehicle keeps a suitable distance from horses that may be warming up on the track
• ensuring driver stops or moves out of the way if there is a problem with a horse
• ensuring horses are not near track entrance as vehicle enters

• 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.

Instructions relayed to mobile driver and other staff  may include:

• adjusting gear
• beginning to move off
• holding horses
• walking horses.

Horses are identified  by:

• brands
• colours
• drivers
• gender
• markings.

Approved gear  may include:

• alterable corrective equipment, such as:

• hopple shorteners
• overchecks
• pull-up blinds
• removable hoods

• bits
• bridles
• driving boots
• helmet
• hopples
• reins
• sulkies
• vests.

Reports are provided  to stewards:

• 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.

Unit Sector 

Harness racing code

Co-requisite units 

Functional Area 

Racing performance services