Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 462 - OREGON RACING COMMISSION › Division 150 - HORSE RACING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES › Section 462-150-0070 - Post Parade; Start; Race

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1)
			 All horses shall parade from paddock to post carrying their respective weights
			 and, to the extent feasible, shall pass the stewards' stand in numerical order.
			 Any horse failing to do so without good cause may be disqualified by the
			 stewards. After passing the stand once, horses may break formation and canter,
			 warm up, or go as they please to the post.
(2) Jockeys shall remain on their mounts
			 whenever reasonably possible. In case of an emergency, the stewards or the
			 starter may permit all jockeys to dismount and all horses to be attended during
			 the delay.
(3) The post parade
			 shall last no more than 12 minutes, unless approved by the stewards. When the
			 horses have reached the post, they shall be started without unnecessary
			 delay.
(4) A jockey shall exert
			 every effort to ride his/her horse to the finish in the best and fastest run of
			 which the horse is capable. No jockey shall ease up or coast to a finish,
			 without adequate cause, even if the horse has no apparent chance to win prize
			 money.
(5) In a straight-away race,
			 every horse must maintain position as nearly as possible in the lane in which
			 it starts. Every horse in the race is entitled to racing room. A horse which
			 drifts out of its lane or lugs in or out, and interferes with, or impedes
			 another horse in a manner which, in the opinion of the board of stewards, could
			 have affected the outcome of the race, may be disqualified by the
			 stewards.
(6) In a race run around
			 a turn, a horse that is in the clear may be taken to any part of the track.
			 However, a horse which weaves back and forth in front of another horse and/or
			 drifts out of its lane, lugs in or out, and interferes with or impedes another
			 horse in a manner which, in the opinion of the board of stewards, could have
			 affected the outcome of the race, may be disqualified by the
			 stewards.
(7) Jockeys shall make
			 every effort to prevent their horse from lugging in or out in a manner which
			 interferes with another horse.
(8)
			 Jockeys shall make every effort to prevent their horse from weaving back and
			 forth in front of another horse.
(9) Jockeys shall not ride in such a manner
			 as to endanger another horse or jockey.
(10) Use of Riding Crop:
(a) Although the use of a riding crop is not
			 required, any jockey who uses a riding crop during a race shall do so only in a
			 manner consistent with exerting his/her best efforts to win.
(b) In all races where a jockey will ride
			 without a riding crop, an announcement of such fact shall be made over the
			 public-address system.
(c) No
			 electrical or mechanical device or other expedient designed to increase or
			 retard the speed of a horse, other than the riding crop approved by the
			 stewards, shall be possessed by anyone, or applied by anyone to the horse at
			 any time on the race meet grounds during the meeting, whether in a race or
			 otherwise.
(d) Riding crops shall
			 not be used on two-year-old horses before April 1 of each year.
(e) The riding crop shall only be used for
			 safety, correction and limited encouragement, and be appropriate,
			 proportionate, professional, taking into account the rules of racing herein.
			 However, stimulus provided by the use of the riding crop shall be monitored so
			 as not to compromise the welfare of the horse.
(f) Use of the riding crop varies with each
			 particular horse and the circumstances of the race.
(g) Except for extreme safety reasons all
			 riders should comply with the following when using a riding crop:
(A) Initially showing the horse the riding
			 crop, and/or tapping the horse with the riding crop down, giving it time to
			 respond before using it;
(B) The
			 riding crop shall not be used more than twice in succession and the horse must
			 be given a chance to respond before using it again; "Chance to respond" is
			 defined as at least three complete strides and one of the following actions by
			 a jockey:
(i) Pausing the use of the riding
			 crop on their horse before resuming again; or
(ii) Pushing on their horse with a rein in
			 each hand, keeping the riding crop in the up or down position; or
(iii) Showing the horse the riding crop
			 without making contact; or
(iv)
			 Moving the riding crop from one hand to the other.
(C) Using the riding crop in rhythm with the
			 horse's stride.
(h) When
			 deciding whether or not to review the jockey's use of the riding crop, Stewards
			 will consider how the jockey has used the riding crop during the course of the
			 entire race, with particular attention to its use in the closing stages, and
			 relevant factors such as:
(A) The manner in
			 which the riding crop was used
(B)
			 The purpose for which the riding crop was used
(C) The distance over which the riding crop
			 was used and whether the number of times it was used was reasonable and
			 necessary
(D) Whether the horse was
			 continuing to respond.
(i) In the event there is a review by the
			 Stewards, use of the riding crop may be deemed appropriate in the following
			 circumstances:
(A) To keep a horse in
			 contention or to maintain a challenging position prior to what would be
			 considered the closing stages of a race,
(B) To maintain a horse's focus and
			 concentration,
(C) To correct a
			 horse that is noticeably hanging,
(D) To assure the horse maintains a straight
			 course, or
(E) Where there is only
			 light contact with the horse.
(j) Prohibited use of the riding crop
			 includes but are not limited to striking a horse:
(A) On the head, flanks or on any other part
			 of its body other than the shoulders or hind quarters except when necessary to
			 control a horse;
(B) During the
			 post parade or after the finish of the race except when necessary to control
			 the horse;
(C) Excessively or
			 brutally causing welts or breaks in the skin;
(D) When the horse is clearly out of the race
			 or has obtained its maximum placing;
(E) Persistently even though the horse is
			 showing no response under the riding crop; or
(F) Striking another rider or
			 horse.
(k) After the
			 race, horses will be subject to inspection by a racing official or official
			 veterinarian looking for cuts, welts or bruises in the skin. Any adverse
			 findings shall be reported to the Stewards.
(l) The giving of instructions by any
			 licensee that if obeyed would lead to a violation of this rule may result in
			 disciplinary action also being taken against the licensee who gave such
			 instructions.