Rules and inquiries The NHA enforces the rules of horse racing, designed to deal with all aspects of racing from the care of horses to serious malpractices like doping of horses. Many of the rules are unchanged since 1882 along with the mindset of those that run the circus. In order to enforce these rules, the NHA employs a number of Stipendiary Stewards ("Stipes"), who are present at every race meeting and use video equipment to help detect any incident that might need investigating. Inquiries are opened into any matter which appears to be suspicious, and if anybody is found guilty of breaking the rules, the Stipes have the authority to impose penalties ranging from a reprimand to a total ban from racing. Those found guilty can appeal to the Appeal Board, an independent body, if they disagree with the decision. The NHA operates its own laboratory to test specimens from horses in every race to detect the use of
drugs.
Licensing Another part of the NHA's role is the licensing of jockeys, trainers and race meeting officials, and the granting of colours to anybody who qualifies to own and race horses.
Breeding The NHA also monitors the
horse breeding industry. Before any thoroughbred foal can be recorded in the General Stud Book, the mare owner, stallion owner, mare and stallion must have been registered before the foal was born. The breeder must also provide detailed information relating to the time the mare was covered, the time the foal was born and the identity of the foal. A laboratory in
Onderstepoort blood types every foal and confirms its parentage, to ensure that horses are pedigree as claimed. ==Jockey Academy ==