Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The effort here is to try to find out what is horse racing. Some members are curious as to why the definition of horse racing cannot include harness racing, because anyone who ever has been involved in organising video horse races for charity will have seen films of harness racing in America. Members seek an explanation as to the reason the fact of pulling a small vehicle behind the horse eliminates it from being horse racing. If it is not allowed under the Bill, that is fine because members will bring up the issue again next week and can approach in another way. However, I am a little puzzled because, for instance, flat racing is allowed, and that is straightforward because it is pure, in that X number of horses start at one point and finish at another. In addition, horses are allowed to jump over jumps. However, what is being indicated here is that for some reason it is not horse racing if the rider sits in a small vehicle as opposed to on the back of the horse. That is what the disallowance of these amendments appears to be stating. Can members get a more detailed explanation from whomever - I do not know who it is - disallows amendments?