General Rules

(1) The definitions and interpretations of racing terms, heretofore set forth as well as 205 CMR 3.01, are to be considered in connection with 205 CMR 3.00 and as part of 205 CMR 3.00. (2) All owners and trainers of horses and their stable employees are subject to M.G.L. c. 128A and 205 CMR 3.00 immediately upon acceptance and occupancy of stabling accommodations from or approved by an Association or upon making entry to run on its track. (3) Owners, trainers and stable employees shall abide by M.G.L. c. 128A and 205 CMR 3.00 and accept the decision of the Judges on any and all questions to which their authority extends, subject to their right of appeal to the Commission. (4) Every person participating in and every patron of a licensed Race Meeting shall abide by M.G.L. c. 128A and 205 CMR 3.00, and accept the Judges' decisions on any and all questions to which their authority extends, subject to the right of appeal to the Commission. (5) Everyperson who drives a horse on a track licensed bythe Commission, whether exercising, warming up or driving in a race shall wear a protective helmet that meets the Safety Standards of The Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules of Racing version 6.1, July, 2015. (6) For the period of two hours before post time of the first race of the day and until the racing program of the day has been completed, every person who drives a horse on a track licensed by the Commission, whether warming up for a race or driving in a race shall wear his or her registered colors, which must be distinguishable at all times. (7) No person shall use improper, profane or indecent language to a racing official. (8) No person shall in any manner, or at any time, disturb the peace or engage in conduct that is unbecoming on the grounds of the Association. (9) Any person, who participates in an unrecognized meeting anywhere, either as a racing official or as an owner, trainer or driver, may be adjudged guilty of conduct detrimental to racing. (10) No person or horse ruled off, or under full suspension by the United States Trotting Association shall be admitted to the grounds of any Association. (11) No person, other than an official of the Commission, shall be allowed in the Judges' Stand; the space occupied by the Clerk of Course; the Timers Stand; and the space occupied by the Program Director and his or her assistants for the period from ½ hour before post time of the first race of the day until the last race has been declared "official" unless permission is obtained from the Judges for each entry. Associations shall take such steps as are necessary to assist the Judges in carrying out the provisions of 205 CMR 3.11(11). (12) Any person who has been convicted by any court anywhere for illegal possession, sale or giving away of narcotics may be ruled off. (13) If any owner, trainer, driver, stable employee, or other person solicit bets from the public by correspondence or other methods, to be made on any horse which is to run on a track in Massachusetts, such person or persons shall be ruled off. (14) When a person is ruled off a course or suspended, every horse owned in whole or part by him or her shall be ineligible to be entered or to start in any race until said horse has been reinstated either by the rescinding of his or her owner's penalty or his or her transfer through bona fide sale to an ownership acceptable to the Judges. (15) When a person is suspended by the Judges of the meeting "from driving only" the ruling of the Judges shall state whether or not the person suspended shall have the privilege of the paddock during the period of his or her suspension. (16) When a person is ruled off a course or suspended, any horse which is under his or her care, management, training or superintendence shall not be qualified to be entered or to start in any race until said horse has been reinstated by the rescinding of said person's penalty or by the placement of the horse in the hand of a licensed trainer and the approval of the transfer by the Judges. (17) When a person is ruled off a course or suspended, he or she shall not be qualified, whether acting as agent or otherwise to subscribe for or to enter or run any horse in any race either in his or her own name or in that of any other person until the rescinding of that person's penalty. (18) Any horse that has been the subject of fraudulent practice may be disqualified. (19) When a person is ruled off for any fraudulent practice in relation to a particular horse, wholly or partly belonging to him or her, he or she shall return all money or prizes that such horse has fraudulently won. (20) Violators of any rule will be subject to ejection from the grounds, and/or to forfeiture, suspension or ruling off. (21) Complaints against a racing official other than a judge or his or her assistant shall be made to the judges in writing and be signed by the complainant. Complaints against a judge shall be made in writing to the Commission and be signed by the complainant. (22) Printed for each racing day shall be a program compiled by the Program Director which shall contain the names of the horses that are to run in the races for that day, these names to appear in the order of their post positions, the said position to be designated by numerals placed at the left and in line with the name of the horses in each race, which shall also be prominently displayed on each horse. The program shall also contain, in addition to the horse's name, its sex, color, age, sire and dam; the owner's name and address; the name of the trainer; the driver's name, date of birth, and colors; class and/or sub-group of race; as many performance lines of the current or preceding year as the USTA deems appropriate; an indication if the driver is racing with a provisional license, and any other useful information approved by the judges. (23) Before a horse may go an official time workout before the Judges, he or she must first be posted in the entry room of the Association as being classified in the preferred or invitational category at the current meeting in progress. (24) Every Racing Association, the Commission or Judges investigating for violations of 205 CMR 3.00 shall have the right to permit persons authorized by any of them to search the person, or enter and search the building, stables, room, vehicles or other places within the grounds of the Association or at other places where horses which are eligible to race are kept together with the personal property and effects contained therein. Every licensed person or person permitted to pursue his or her occupation or employment within the grounds or any Association by accepting his or her license or such permission does thereby irrevocably consent to such search as aforesaid and waive and release all claims or possible actions for damages that he or she may have by virtue of any action taken under 205 CMR 3.00. (25) No licensee or other person under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall subject or permit any animal under his or her control, custody or supervision to be subjected to or to incur anyform of cruelty, mistreatment, neglect or abuse or abandon, injure, maim or kill or administer any noxious substance to or deprive any animal of necessary care or sustenance, shelter or veterinary care.