On Sunday morning, jointly, the Club des Gentlemen et des Cavalières and France Galop organized a morning of presentation and discussion around the voluntary role of race commissioners. It is indeed important to plan ahead. “When 15 new commissioners are approved, there are 30 each year who leave us due in particular to exceeding the age limit to exercise (Editor’s note: set by the 2015 Decree at 75 years),” indicates the head of the commissioners department, Samuel Fargeat. However, with some exceptions, there must be a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 race commissioners at each meeting (Premium or PMH) to guarantee both the regularity and safety of the events. Throughout this morning, explanations were provided on the mission of the volunteer commissioner, on how to embrace this function, and there were even practical cases broadcast on incidents to raise awareness on judgments and in particular on the new doctrine of 2018 in case of inconvenience. This doctrine via a series of questions should allow the stewards to opt for the decisions which will be most in line with the racing code. First of all, no competitor must hinder the progress of another horse from leaving the stalls to passing the post. If discomfort is noted, the marshals are invited to answer the following questions: Did this discomfort lead to a fall? Is this discomfort the result of dangerous behavior? Is this discomfort the result of non-dangerous behavior? And in the end, the jockey found to be at fault for causing interference must be sanctioned (except for accidental interference).
To go further about the 2018 doctrine, CLICK HERE
Here we offer you a series of questions and answers to better understand the role of volunteer racing commissioner.
How do you become a Commissioner?
“You must contact the President of the racecourse near you to first make contact,” indicates the President of the Saumur company, Stéphanie Daburon. “Once the application is accepted by the Board of Directors of the racing company in question, there is then training in both disciplines (trotting and galloping) for one day each, continues Samuel Fargeat. Then there are sessions with the existing racing commissioners for around ten meetings and it is necessary to pass an exam to obtain approval (you must have the average in gallop and trot). Once approval is in hand, it must be validated by the ministries of the interior and agriculture following a morality investigation. The approval allows you to work in several racing companies, with a maximum of 100 trips during a calendar year.”
What skills are required?
“The future volunteer commissioner must be passionate about horses and above all love horse racing, replies Samuel Fargeat. It is necessary to devote time to this quite time-consuming activity, which can take place on weekends or public holidays. Volunteering (Editor’s note: the commissioners are paid) guarantees independence from the organizer. It is necessary to develop expertise in the rules and practices of the world of horse racing, in particular the racing code. The stewards do not know it by heart, but they master the articles that they must apply on the racecourse. What we look for in a commissioner is his ability to judge incidents and inconveniences in such a way as to ensure the interests of all stakeholders and punters. There may be difficult decisions to make but they are accepted, because they are made in accordance with the racing code. You also need to have communication skills to explain the decisions taken.”
For 4 or 5 years, communication has been more active with a view to creating vocations as commissioners.
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What are the commissioner’s missions?
“First of all, control and surveillancesaid Samuel Fargeat. He must ensure that the horses’ and jockeys’ equipment meets safety standards and that everything complies with what has been declared and is listed on the racing program. He must make fair decisions regarding infractions and complaints to preserve the interests of bettors, socio-professionals and the public. In the event of an incident observed, the commissioner coordinates interventions and investigations to preserve the integrity of the races.”
Can a racing commissioner work on racecourses directly managed by France Galop?
Yes, provided you have accumulated a lot of experience in the provinces. It takes great mastery of the subjects and having been confronted with a whole bunch of cases before to allow yourself, for example, to be a race commissioner one day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the stakes are enormous at all levels. There is a list of these commissioners speaking at the so-called Parisian premium meetings which is voted on every year by the France Galop Committee. If you are there for the first time, even if you have been judging for 10 years in Nantes for example, you will do a year of training before officially appearing on the match sheet.
Can a racing steward be an owner or breeder?
Yes, but he is prohibited from being an employee of a racing team or a professional (trainer, driver, etc.). If a commissioner (or his spouse) has a leaver during the meeting, he cannot officiate for the entire duration of it to avoid any conflict of interest.
What is the difference between racing commissioners and France Galop or SETF commissioners?
The racing commissioners who are volunteers are not there to create the racing code but to enforce it. The commissioners of the parent companies, who are also volunteers, are elected, whether by trotting or galloping, for a four-year term. They are the ones who work on possible changes to the racing code or intervene when an appeal is made following a decision by the racing commissioners.
To go further CLICK HERE
Is it possible to sanction Commissioners?
No because the Commissioners are volunteers, they are a group, the decision is collective (3 or 4 commissioners work on the same meeting). In France there are around 7,000 flat and obstacle races and last year only 42 decisions were appealed, around thirty being upheld. On appeal, a sanction cannot be increased, however, it can be reduced.
There were many questions about the role of commissioner on Sunday morning in the local gentlemen and riders at the Auteuil racecourse.
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During the race meeting
Is there a maximum time to make a decision?
“There is none, if there is a more complicated decision to make, the stewards will take the necessary time, even if the next race has to start”indicates Samuel Fargeat.
Can a meeting take place with only two commissioners?
Yes, the code allows it, however if there is only one, the meeting cannot take place. “As far as I can remember since I took office, in 12 years, this has never happened”indicates the head of the commissioners department.
What happens when the commissioners disagree on a decision?
“The Commissioners discuss, with the 1st Commissioner being there to lead the debates, until a consensus is createdindicates Samuel Fargeat. In the vast majority of cases, the commissioners come to an agreement, the opinion of the 1st Commissioner sometimes being preponderant. They rely on a doctrine which is there to ask questions and at the end, a decision arises (read above). Even if a commissioner is not completely in agreement with a decision, once it is taken, he is in solidarity with it, he will never communicate his personal opinion.
For further information, go to the website www.fnch.fr, section “Become Actors”
Samuel Fargeat, Patrick-Alain Sauvat, Stéphanie Daburon and Maxime Peltier answered numerous questions from people who came to attend this presentation of the role of racing commissioner.
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How did they become commissioners?
Staphanie Daburon : “When I became a commissioner, I had just had my third child, and I was working on the side. It’s a question of will and organization of one’s personal time. Becoming a commissioner was something I wanted to do. My advice if you want to take the plunge is to start slowly, take the exam and do a few annual trips in order to get the hang of it and keep up to date with changes to the code, the racing commissioners being of course the first to know. The main thing is to get started.”
Former show jumping jockey and former Equidia consultant, Patrick-Alain Sauvat officiates in Dieppe: “It was curiosity and the desire to discover behind the scenes that made me apply. This also allows me to stay in this world of racing that I love so much. In any case, it’s exciting.”
Maxime Peltier, who officiated this Sunday, October 13 in Auteuil: “I am the son of the former President of Lion-d’Angers, Alain Peltier, who was very involved there. For me it’s very simple, I went there in a stroller before I knew how to walk, so it was quite natural that I became a commissioner in 2005, it really fascinates me. In life, otherwise, I work as a mounted policeman in Angers.”
