What are the rules on my medical record book?

Under Rule 25 of the NHA Rules of Racing, every rider (including registered apprentices) is issued a medical record book and must:

• have it available for inspection by stewards, licensed officials, the racecourse medical officer and NHA medical consultants;
• hand it to the clerk of the scales at least 60 minutes before the first race you ride in (or to the stewards when you arrive, if you have no booked rides);
• report any medication, prescribed or not, to the racecourse medical officer, who declares you fit or unfit.

You may not weigh out unless your book shows you free of any embargo, or the racecourse medical officer has declared you fit. If you can't produce it, you must be examined. If you are declared unfit, you may not ride again until examined and cleared by the racecourse medical officer, and only a registered medical practitioner may make entries in it.

If you miss a ride through illness or injury, you may not ride for 2 days after that meeting without stewards' permission, and must give the clerk of the scales a fitness certificate before riding again (Rule 25.12). Failing to present the book: R250 (May 2026 guidelines).