Home » Media Portal » Media Accreditation T&Cs

Please read the terms below in detail, and tick the checkbox at the end to indicate your agreement to the rules.

Process for obtaining on-course access:

• All media representatives must complete a Media Accreditation Request and submit it for approval to the Cape Racing Media Manager.

By approving this application, the Operator commits to:

• Sharing the relevant and required information timeously.
• Having a dedicated contact on course.
• Providing a working area where Media can file their stories, together with working Wi-fi.

Access to footage (broadcast):

• Any and all requests for footage need to be directed via the Cape Racing team
• Footage requests should be made timeously and in writing. A minimum of 72 hours for turnaround for requests should be allowed for.
• Cape Racing to be credited in all instances for their footage.
• In the event where there is a broadcast partner in place, the Terms of Footage will be communicated timeously.

Access to footage (photography):

• Any and all requests for event photographs need to be directed via the Cape Racing team.
• Cape Racing and the relevant photographer must be credited at all times.

On Course Conduct:

• Members of the Media must be identifiable with clearly visible accreditation bands / tags at all times.
• The media representative agrees to, at all times, share factually correct information, and show the sport in a positive light.
• All Members of the Media are expected to align with the on-course dress code: smart-casual with closed shoes (no flip-flops or shorts). Journalists needing to access any of our Hospitality areas (by prior arrangement only) will require a jacket.
• No argumentative, negative or abusive behaviour will be tolerated by any Member of the Media.
• All news media photographers and videographers granted special access to the photography pen on the finish line will be required to:
  • Attend a safety and protocols briefing session
  • Wear the bib supplied
  • Remain inside the pen until instructed that it is safe to leave
• Failure to abide by these rules will result in your removal from the course and/or venue.

Course Access:

The Parade Ring:

• Access to the parade ring is reserved for Trainers, Assistant Trainers, Owners and Racing Officials.
• Photographers wishing to take photographs or film from within the Parade Ring must obtain accreditation for this area. Once inside the parade ring, the Racing staff’s instructions must be strictly followed.
• Journalists wishing to access the parade ring also require accreditation. We ask that the area’s trainers, owners and jockeys be respected. Please do not push for interviews in this space.
• Access to this area is limited; only select media will be granted access.

The Finish Line:

• No flash photography.
• No crouching or lying down in the vicinity of the finish once the running of the race has begun and until all horses are past the finish line.
• All under-rail cameras to be on pegs or tripods and to be remotely controlled.
• All photographers, except for the Official Course Photographer, must remain within the demarcated photographer’s area (see Conduct rules).
• Should there be no demarcated area, the Official Course Photographer will be instructed by the Operator to advise other photographers where they may / may not stand at the photo finish.
• No photographer or camera operator is permitted to be on the ‘inside’ of any tracks while a race is in progress (the ‘inside’ refers to the side of the track where the finish line post is situated).
• No photographer or camera operator is permitted to stand before the finish line.
• Accredited journalists to be aware of photography requirements and stand back.
• Photographers and journalists must respect one another’s space requirements and ensure everyone can get the desired results.

The Winner’s Enclosure:

• This area is strictly reserved for the connections of the winning horse and the Official Racecourse Photographers.
• No photographer is permitted to lay in the vicinity of the winner’s enclosure in the presence of a horse.
• Photographers and Journalists are welcome to generate content from the barrier of the area.

The Start:

• No photographer may go to the start without prior permission from the PR, Communications or Marketing manager.
• Once at the start, the photographer is obliged to obey any instruction given by the Starter, who is employed by the NHRA, or whomever he has authorised to give such instructions.

Other Areas:

• No journalists are permitted in the horse holding area – this area forms part of the NHRA security area, and the general public and photographers are not permitted in this area at all.
• Journalists and photographers who would like to gain access to the saddling area are required to ask for special permission from the Marketing, PR or Communications manager.
• The chute whereby horses access the track is also a restricted area and permission to photograph / film in this area needs to be obtained from the PR Manager.

Media Dress Code:

• Journalists and media on course are required to be dressed neatly, trainers are allowed but need to in a clean condition.
• We have strict dress code rules in certain areas of the building and parade ring which needs to be adhered to.
• Media who shoot at the start and finish will be required to wear a media bib to be easily identified and differentiated from other media (subject to approval).

Transgression of any of the terms listed in the Media Accreditation Request will result in the immediate removal of the photographer or journalist in question from the racecourse.  Subsequent review of the transgression by representatives of the Operator and may result in Media Accreditation being revoked temporarily or completely.

These rules are set with the approval of the Operator and the NHRA and are in place to ensure the safety of all parties concerned.

The media representative agrees to always hold the sport of horseracing in the highest regard, and should they have any aggrievances, to approach them in the correct manner, following the outlined channel of communication.