Racing: The Turf Club stressed yesterday that they have no immediate plans to introduce a mobile phone ban similar to the one that is proving so controversial in Britain.
But the senior steward Ray Rooney did concede that evidence of misuse could easily lead to a change of view.
Speaking at yesterday's Turf Club review of the year, Rooney said: "We have decided against the banning of such phones as we are not aware of any instances where the phones have been used to compromise the integrity of racing.
"We fully understand the predicament which the Jockey Club found themselves in where it was clearly stated in court that mobile phones were being used for such purposes and in our view they had to take action in some shape or form.
"If we become aware of evidence that mobile phones are being misused here we would seriously consider the introduction of a ban."
Rooney also announced a number of initiatives including the introduction of a new close circuit television system to racecourse stableyards as well as a new swipe card identification system which the Turf Club believe will give them greater control on movement in stableyards.
However, there was also news of a worrying development regarding the minimum riding weights for jockeys.
An electrolytes study carried out recently at the Curragh revealed that seven of the 11 riders who had blood samples taken before and after they had finished their riding engagement were dehydrated before they started riding at all.
Rooney described that as a "frightening finding" and said the stewards will examine the study before making a decision on the raising of minimum weights.
However he added: "It is not certain what effect, if any, the raising of the minimum weights will have because as long as there is a bottom weight you will always have riders striving to put their body through whatever it takes to reach that weight."
The Turf Club have decided to hold off on entering into a formal arrangment with the various betting exchanges because they say the level of such betting in Ireland is small compared to the UK and they are waiting to see how the system works in Britain.
