Kotare you are correct, raceday rules changed as part of the terms to enter a commingling agreement with Aussie- basically our rules had to fall into line with Aussie set up. if HRNZ go back to old rules, commingling agreement is at risk
commingling is a massive benefit to the industry, turnovers especially when on the main racing channel in Aussie go up massively ( Cromwell grass track meeting is a good recent example)
Personally I don't have a problem with the current rules- no system will be perfect. The problem I have is with the penalties issued to guilty parties. They are too light, Ben Hope should have got a month suspension. Get tough on interference and the frequency of it happening will decrease.