Photography Policy

PLEASE NOTE

This is a nationwide document, issued by the Point-to-Point Secretaries Association

As is standard practice across commercial sports and leisure venues, racecourses seek to protect their image rights in their terms and conditions of entry. These regulations are in place to ensure that any commercial income streams generated are protected and available to be reinvested into racing.

Whilst racecourses do not wish to dissuade customers from taking pictures of their day out, and sharing them on social media, this must remain at a personal and private level. Photographs published for a commercial purpose or on a large scale where they are available for download, even at no cost, cannot be considered as being for personal and private use.

Consequently such photography is not permitted without accreditation.

Guidance for photographers and videographers

Introduction

All photographers and videographers (unless they are the meeting’s appointed Official Photographer) are required to apply to each meeting Secretary for permission to take photographs at the said meeting. Each Area should provide them with an outline of what will and will not be permissible.

Conditions

Secretaries should include the following conditions in the documentation which is sent to photographers:

The Host Hunt/Club reserves the right to charge a fee for each raceday which is attended by the photographer.
Photographers must provide evidence that they hold public liability insurance to a minimum of £1 million and will be required to show such insurance as without it they may not operate.
Any permission given to either press or commercial photographers (irrespective of those provided with Area or National Passes) is at the discretion of the Host Hunt/Club (unless other accreditation arrangements are in place).
Without such permission/approval no photographer (or videographer) may display or publish photographs (video) for sale and if found doing so will be asked to remove them and will be reported to the Point-to-Point Authority.
Identification can be issued by the meeting and, if issued, must be worn at all times.
All photographers who enter the Point-to-Point venue will be subject to the racecourse’s and/or meeting’s Terms and Conditions of Entry.
Media rights for each meeting belong to that meeting. While copyright always remains with the Photographer/Videographer, the Meeting/Area Secretary reserves the right to request non publication (or withdrawal) of images deemed detrimental to the sport.
All directions given by the Clerk of the Course or other meeting official(s) must be complied with.
Photographs cannot be taken in the Weighing Room, Parade Ring or Winners’ Enclosure without prior approval, usually only granted to the Meeting’s Official Photographer.
Each Hunt/Club reserves the right to restrict the number of photographers in the unsaddling enclosure or any other area as deemed appropriate.
Social Media – photographers may share small numbers of images on Social Media only.
Photographers must not solicit names/addresses of owners, trainers, jockeys or other connections unless permission is given by the Host Hunt/Club.
The use of flash photography is strictly forbidden except during presentations in low light conditions.
Photographers are asked to refrain from photographing injured, distressed or dead horses. Photography of ongoing medical or veterinary treatment is not permitted at any time.
Photographers must have regard at all times to the safety of all people in the area where the photograph is being taken, particularly in the unsaddling enclosure – DO NOT request that stable staff turn a horse around when there are other people in the area.
The racecourse reserves the right to request copies of any pictures which might be used by the stewards for the purpose of any inquiry being held without the Managing Executive being liable to make any payment.
Every photographer operates entirely at their own risk and the Managing Executive will not be liable for any injury, loss or damage to the photographer or any equipment howsoever the same may arise.
A Photographer’s Permit does not confer any exclusive rights on the holder.
Amateur photographers must abide by the terms and conditions of entry and the Point-to-Point amateur photography guidance notes (see below).

This list is not exhaustive, and each meeting should add or remove conditions as required in accordance with their individual circumstances.

In addition, all photographers must comply with the provisions laid out in Point-to-Point Rules and Regulations, which states the following:

Press and Professional Photographers

1. All Press and professional photographers must agree, as part of the terms and conditions of issue, to comply with the Rules and Regulations.
2. All other press and professional photographers must be authorised by the individual Hunt/Club to take photographs at any race meeting and must sign to confirm that they have read and agreed to comply with this Instruction.
Each meeting must ensure that all approved photographers are aware that:
1. photographers may not position themselves on the racing surface*, or on or above the take-off or landing side of a fence or hurdle, and are to remain on the outside of any running rail and are not to lean over or from under a running rail;
  *Note: The surface is deemed as the course in use for that particular race. This also includes any bypass of a fence, whether it is in use or not.
2. photographers must not stand behind or in any wing of a fence or protrude a camera through any part of a wing or stand between a double rail;
3. no remote cameras are to be attached to any wing of a fence;
4. the positioning of any remote cameras immediately adjacent to the take-off or landing side of a fence is only permissible on the outside of the wing and when there is sufficient angle on the wing so that as runners approach the obstacle the position of remote cameras is completely obscured.
  1. Remote cameras may be positioned on the take-off side of a fence on the outside of the wing adjacent to the take-off board providing the camera lens does not protrude through any part of the wing and must be secured by means of a sub-surface ground spike or a flexible ground support which must not exceed a height of 24 inches.
  2. Remote cameras may be positioned on the landing side of a fence within and no further than six inches from the base of the fence frame. Where advertising hoardings are in situ permission must be obtained from the racecourse as to remote camera positions.
  3. No rigid camera supports in excess of seven inches above ground level are permitted.
5. tripods and ladders must not be used before or for 30 yards after a fence on the side of the rail marking the layby of that fence. The top step/platform of the ladder must not be higher than the running rail;
6. photographers using a ladder must remain static on the ladder until all runners have gone past the site of the ladder;
7. camera support spikes and mini-tripods may be used but the camera lens must be behind the line of the running rail upright;
8. photography inside the winner’s enclosure is to be restricted to those who are authorised by the Meeting
9. photography is not to take the Parade Ring, except with permission from the Secretary of each meeting
10. flash photography of horses is not permitted. Flash photography may be allowed in specific areas or in adverse light conditions, with permission of the Meeting Secretary
11. photography of ongoing medical or veterinary treatment is not permitted. Specific examples where photography is not considered acceptable, although the list is not exhaustive, include horses or riders undergoing treatment when screens have been erected, the interior of an ambulance when a patient is on board, and inside designated treatment areas for both humans and equines.
The above instructions may be supplemented at individual racecourses by any special additional instructions as considered necessary to safeguard riders and horses before, during and after races, and particularly before and after fences and hurdles.
Any dispensations to these rules require written permission from the Host Hunt/Club and Inspector of Courses (if available) in advance.

Amateur Photography

Amateur photographers are only permitted to take photographs in the areas normally open to the public and should not encroach upon areas specifically designated for or used by professional photographers. As such, it is advised that they not be given accreditation to do so.
A notice is to be included in racecards warning amateurs of the restrictions placed upon them, and that the use of flash equipment is not permitted.
Social Media - Amateur Photographers/Videographers may share small numbers of images on Social Media only.

Non-Compliance

Any instances of photographers who do not comply with this Instruction should be reported by the Fixture Secretary to the Point-to-Point Authority

Meeting Secretaries may find it beneficial to provide all photographers with a copy of of these notes and any relevant Point-to-Point Rules and Regulations regarding photography, and to advise them that they must comply with the provisions contained within.

Secretaries should inform the Point-to-Point Authority of any photographer or member of the press, who has been the cause of disruption at any raceday. The Point-to-Point Authority will take action against persistent offenders as appropriate.