Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 205 CMR - MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION › Title 205 CMR 4.00 - Rules of Horse Racing › Section 4.33 - Starter

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) Only the Starter or a deputy approved by
			 him or her and by the Stewards may start a race.
(2) The Starter shall give all orders and
			 take all measures necessary to insure a fair start.
(3) The Starter's decision as to the validity
			 of a start shall be final. Likewise his or her decision as to whether a horse
			 was locked in the gate shall be final.
(4) The Starter may appoint his or her
			 assistants subject to the approval of the Stewards.
(5) Horses are in the hands of the Starter
			 from the moment they enter the track on the way from paddock to post. They
			 remain in his or her hands until the start.
(6) In case the alignment of the horses at
			 the post is delayed, the Starter may permit jockeys to dismount and their
			 mounts to be attended.
(7) Horses
			 shall take their positions in numerical order from the inside rail, that order
			 to be determined by postposition. However, if the starter deems a horse unruly,
			 said horse may take position out of order.
(8) All flat races shall be started out of a
			 stall gate.
(9) In case of
			 necessity, by permission of the Stewards, a gate may be used with the doors
			 open.
(10) If the number of horses
			 starting in a stake race does not exceed the capacity of the track, but does
			 exceed the number of stalls in the gate, the surplus may be started from
			 outside the gate.
(11) The Starter
			 may place vicious and unruly horses on the outside and behind the
			 line.
(12) The Starter shall report
			 to the Stewards by whom or by what cause any delay was occasioned and any cases
			 of misconduct by jockeys when under his or her orders.
(13) The Starter shall maintain and keep
			 available to the Stewards a daily record of all horses handled at the
			 gate.
(14) The Starter shall
			 maintain a Starter's list, and all horses shall be schooled to barrier or
			 starting gate, if and when required under the personal supervision of himself
			 or herself or his or her assistants.
(15) Only the Starter shall have the
			 authority to designate the horses that shall constitute the Starter's
			 list.
(16) The Starter shall file a
			 copy of the Starter's list with the racing secretary.
(17) The Starter shall report to the racing
			 secretary as soon as a horse on the list has been schooled sufficiently to be
			 permitted to start.
(18) A horse
			 will not be eligible to start until the starter orders the name stricken from
			 the Starter's list.
(19) The
			 concurrent statements of the Starter and his or her assistants as to incidents
			 of the start are conclusive.
(20)
			 Neither the Starter nor his or her assistants shall mistreat or use abusive
			 language to a jockey.
(21) The
			 Starter's approval of the starting ability of all two-year-olds must be
			 obtained before the same are permitted to start. Likewise, his or her approval
			 must be obtained for all older horses that have never started at a recognized
			 meeting.
(22) If a horse is locked
			 in the gate, the Starter shall immediately notify the Stewards who in turn
			 shall immediately notify the manager of the Pari-mutuel Department.
(23) No person shall give to any starter or
			 assistant starter, nor shall any starter or assistant starter receive money,
			 anything of value, or other compensation for such starter's or assistant
			 starter's services in connection with the running of any race or races. No
			 Starter or assistant starter, shall either directly or indirectly bet on any
			 race, or engage in any betting transaction nor have any interest in any
			 horse.