Racing and track rules

(a) Driving procedures. Although a leading horse is entitled to any part of the track except after selecting his position in the home stretch, neither the driver of the first horse nor any other driver in the race shall: (1) Change either to the right or left during any part of the race when another horse is so near him that in altering his position he compels the horse behind him to shorten his stride, or causes the driver of such other horse to pull him out of his stride. (2) Jostle, strike, hook wheels, or interfere with another horse or driver. (3) Cross sharply in front of a horse or cross over in front of a field of horses in a reckless manner, endangering other drivers. (4) Swerve in and out or pull up quickly. (5) Crowd a horse or driver by "putting a wheel under him". (6) "Carry a horse out" or "sit down in front of him", take up abruptly in front of other horses so as to cause confusion or interference among the trailing horses, or do any other act which constitutes what is popularly known as helping. (7) Let a horse pass inside needlessly. (8) Commit any act which shall impede the progress of another horse or cause him to "break". (9) Change course after selecting a position in the home stretch and swerve in or out, or bear in or out, in such manner as to interfere with another horse or cause him to change course or take back. (10) Drive in a careless or reckless manner. (11) Fail to set or maintain a pace comparable to the class in which they are racing. Failure to do so by going an excessively slow quarter or any other distance that changes the normal pattern, overall timing, or general outcome of the race will be considered a violation of this rule and the judges may impose a penalty which can be a fine, suspension, or both. (12) Laying off a normal pace and leaving a hole when it is well within the horse's capacity to keep the hole closed. (b) Complaints by drivers, judges stand. All complaints by drivers of any foul driving or other misconduct during the heat shall be made at the termination of the heat, unless the driver is prevented from doing so by accident or injury. At the conclusion of each heat or dash, every driver shall return to a point designated by the presiding judge to be dismissed by the judges. Any driver desiring to enter a claim of foul or another complaint of violation of the rules must indicate to a judge his desire to enter such a claim or complaint and forthwith upon dismounting shall proceed to the telephone or judges stand where and when such complaint shall be immediately considered. In cases of injury to either horse or driver or broken equipment, the driver may approach the nearest official on foot and indicate his desire to enter a claim of foul. Otherwise he must make the claim before dismounting. The judges shall not cause the official sign to be displayed until such complaint shall have been entered and considered. After being dismissed by the judge, all drivers must return to the paddock and remain there until the race is made official. (c) Violations involving entries, complaints, penalties. If any of the above violations are committed by a person driving a horse coupled as an entry in the betting, the judges may set both horses back, if, in their opinion, the violation may have affected the finish of the race. Otherwise, penalties may be applied individually to the drivers of any entry. (d) Placing offending horse. In case of interference, collision, or violation of any of the rules, the offending horse may be placed behind all the unoffending horses in that heat or dash, and in the event such collision or interference prevents any horse from finishing the heat or dash, the offending horse may be disqualified from receiving any winnings and the driver may be penalized. (e) Fraudulent or unsatisfactory driving. (1) Every heat in a race must be contested by every horse in the race and every horse must be driven to the finish. (2) If the judges find that a horse is being driven, or has been driven, with design to prevent his winning a heat or dash or is being raced in an inconsistent manner, in order to perpetuate or aid a fraud, it shall be considered a violation, and the driver and anyone in consort with him may immediately be placed on suspension and a report shall be made to the commission. (3) In the event a drive is unsatisfactory due to lack of effort, or carelessness and the judges believe that there is no fraud, or gross carelessness or a deliberate inconsistent drive, they may impose a penalty or a suspension not to exceed 10 days and/or a fine. However, if after further review they do suspect a violation of rule (e) (2) of this section, they shall immediately report the matter to the commission. (f) Failure to finish. If for any cause other than being interfered with, broken equipment or unavoidable accident, a horse fails to finish after starting a heat or dash, that horse shall be ruled out. (g) Whips. Drivers will be allowed whips not to exceed 4 feet, 8 inches, plus a snapper not longer than 8 inches. (h) Use of goading devices, etc. The possession or use of a goading device, chain or mechanical devices or appliances, other than the ordinary whip or crop upon any horse in a race shall constitute a violation of this rule. The brutal use of a whip or crop, kicking a horse with a foot, striking a horse with a whip under the seat of the sulky or indiscriminate use of a whip or crop shall be considered a violation. (i) Hopples. No horse shall wear hopples in a race unless he starts in the hopples in the first heat or dash and having so started he shall continue to wear them to the finish of the race. Any person found guilty of removing or altering a horse's hopples during a race, or between races, for the purpose of fraud, shall be penalized. Any horse that habitually wears hopples shall not be permitted to start in a race without them except by the permission of the judges. Any horse habitually racing free legged shall not be permitted to wear hopples in a race except with the permission of the judges. Removing, altering or adding hopples without permission of the judges shall be considered a violation. (j) Head poles. No horse shall be permitted to wear a head pole protruding more than ten (10) inches beyond his nose. (k) Breaking. (1) When any horse or horses break from their gait in trotting or pacing, their drivers shall at once, where clearance exists, take such horse to the outside and pull it to its gait. (2) The following shall be considered violations of rule (k) of this section: (A) Failure to properly attempt to pull the horse to its gait. (B) Failure to take to the outside where clearance exists. (C) Failure to lose ground by the break. (3) If there has been no failure on the part of the driver in complying with rule (k) (2) (A), (B), and (C) of this section, the horse shall not be set back unless a contending horse on his gait is lapped on the hindquarter of the breaking horse at the finish. (4) The judges may set any horse back one or more places if in their judgment any of the above violations have been committed, and the driver may be penalized. (l) Fraudulent breaking. If a driver causes or allows his horse to break for the purpose of fraudulently losing a heat or clash, he shall be penalized. (m) Calling and noting breaks. To assist in determining the matters contained in rules (k) and (l) of this section, it shall be the duty of one of the judges to call out every break made and the clerk of the course shall at once note the break and character of it in writing. (n) Time between heats and dashes. The time between heats or dashes for any distance up to and including a mile shall be not less than twenty-five minutes; for any distance between one and two miles, thirty minutes. (o) Right of the track. Horses called for a race shall have the exclusive right of the track and all other horses shall vacate the track at once, unless permitted to remain by the judges. (p) Accidents. In the case of accidents, only so much time shall be allowed before continuing as the judges may deem necessary and proper. (q) Denerved horses. Horses that have been nerved, blocked with alcohol or any other drug that desensitizes the nerves will not be permitted to race. (r) Spayed mare. The fact that a mare has been spayed must be noted on the registration certificate, the eligibility certificate and any program when such mare races. It shall be the owner's responsibility to report the fact that the mare has been spayed to the United States trotting association and return its paper for correction. A list of spayed mares shall be posted by the racing secretary on the bulletin board in the entry room.