Rules

  2009 Racing Rules & Regulations

1. Drivers must report with their USTA licenses to the Clerk of the Course. Drivers with expired licenses will be given only one (1) notice to get renewed. Qualifying drivers must introduce themselves to the Judges and give their USTA driver license number to the Clerk of the Course before their first qualifying drive at Raceway Park, and are required to wear driving colors while going for their license.

2. All claiming horses must have a registration certificate and a current claiming authorization signed only by the owner(s) on file in the race office.

3. No horse claimed out of a claiming race shall race at any other track until the close of the season at the track at which the claim was made or for thirty (30) days, whichever is the shortest period of time.

4. Raceway Park qualifying standards at the start of the 2009 meet will be: PACE 2:06; TROT 2:08. There will be a one (1) second allowance for a half mile track. 2 year old allowed 2 seconds, 3 year old allowed 1 second. Horses must have a “good” charted line within 45 days of the scheduled race day.

5. Race conditions may be altered to make full fields. Horses must have at least 5 starts in 2009 to be eligible under “per start” earnings.

6. Horses must be wholly owned by Ohio residents for “Ohio Owned” designated races.  Ohio Owned/Bred MUST be designated on the entry form, or the horse may not be given recognition as such.

7. Any and all events are subject to being combined to create full fields.

8. While every effort is made to avoid mistakes, it is NOT the policy of Raceway Park to re-draw races due to error.

9. Horses entered incorrectly, whether deliberately or mistakenly, MAY be moved to the class to which they actually are eligible on the same racing card.

10. Horses racing on Lasix must be on the grounds of Raceway Park at least four (4) hours prior to the post time of their actual race.

11. All non-Lasix horses shipping in to race must be on the grounds three (3) hours prior to the post time of their actual race.

12. No horses may leave the grounds on the day they are racing until they have completed their racing engagement.

13. Horses may not drop more than one (1) class without permission of the Racing Secretary.

14. Stall rent is $75/month per stall.  There is NO “race off,” and it is due on the 1^st of every month.  Failure to pay stall rent in a timely manner may result in loss of racing privileges.
    

15. Until otherwise announced, the usual draw schedule will be based on a two day box:

Wednesday for Friday; Thursday for Saturday; Friday for Sunday and Qualifiers

Scratch time and driver changes will be the same day. When making entries, always list MORE THAN one driver on the entry. On draw days, the Race Office will be open at 8:00am. Make all declarations by 9:00am. Scratch time is 3:00pm the day of the draw.  Qualifiers will be held on Saturdays at 4:00 pm.

16. Post time for the 2009 race meet will be 6:00pm on Fridays & Saturdays and 5:00pm on Sundays unless otherwise announced.

Paddock Procedures

Paddock Arrival Times:

Races 1 & 2           By 5:00pm Friday & Saturday; 4:00pm Sunday

Races 3 & 4           By 5:30pm Friday & Saturday; 4:30pm Sunday

Race 5                   After 1^st race post parade

Race 6                   After 2^nd race post parade

Race 7                   After 3^rd race post parade

Race 8                   After 4^th race post parade

Race 9                   After 5^th race post parade

Race 10                 After 6^th race post parade

Race 11                 After 7^th race post parade

Race 12                 After 8^th race post parade

Race 13                 After 9^th race post parade

Race 14                 After 10^th race post parade

Race 15                 After 11^th race post parade

Race 16                 After 12^th race post parade

17. Drivers for the first two (2) races must sign in with the Paddock Judge sixty (60) minutes prior to the scheduled post time of the first race.

18. Anyone on the track warming up or scoring down horses after 4:00pm on racing days must be in clean, full colors that include white pants, and a helmet. The wearing of sneakers, tennis shoes or sandals will NOT be allowed.

19. No conversation with the public will be permitted by anyone in the paddock. No conversation among the drivers will be permitted during the scoring of horses prior to a race.

20. Any equipment changes or adjustments are to be made ONLY in the paddock and MUST be reported to the Identifier.

21. There will be NO shortcuts through the paddock to the grandstand.

22. Trainers are responsible for equipment used during a race including shoeing. Penalties or fines may be imposed for any unnecessary delays or for using unsafe equipment. After the post parade, equipment adjustments or repairs require either the permission of the Starter of the Paddock Judge. Trainers are also responsible for the physical condition of their horses.

23. All drivers must return to the paddock after each race and remain there until the race is declared official.

24. Drivers and trainers must sign in at the Paddock Judge’s office and shall report to the paddock at the prescribed time. Grooms and owners must sign in with the Security Guard at the Paddock Gate. All drivers shall take the breathalyzer test at least thirty (30) minutes before post time of their first driving engagement on the racing card.

25. The only persons admitted to the paddock are owners, drivers, trainers, and grooms of horses programmed to race that racing card, and fully appointed officials. Children are not permitted in the paddock. No drivers, trainers, or grooms may leave the paddock until their business is over without permission of the Paddock Judge.

26. The Paddock Judge’s office is for official business only.

27. No horse shall be left unattended in the paddock. The trainer and groom must be present with their horses when the Identifier checks tattoos and for equipment changes.

28. ALL HORSES MUST BE WARMED UP at least one time around before their scheduled race.

29. Drivers are expected to parade their own horses. If unable to do so, notify the Paddock Judge in advance. All horses must take at least one score in front of the grandstand immediately following the post parade.

30. THE USE OF CELLULAR PHONES WHILE IN THE PADDOCK IS NOT PERMITTED.

Judges

31. Scratch times will be posted in Judge’s Office. All scratches must be reported ONLY to the Judges by the prescribed time. Judges are in the office on draw days from 11:00am until 3:00pm. Judges are in the office on race days at 4:00pm.

32. Having two persons on a bike or leading of horses will NOT be permitted.

33. Drivers shall have both feet in the stirrups at all times on the race track.

34. Helmets must be buckled at all times on the race track. Only approved helmets may be worn.

35. All spayed, in-foal, and nerved horses must be reported to the Judges, so that it will be posted. In-foal mares may NOT race in claiming events.

36. The Judges reserve the right to place any horse on the Steward’s List.

37. Any horse causing two (2) recalls or a refund may be refused re-qualifying privileges.

38. All entries and declarations shall be under the supervision of the Judges and the Racing Secretary. They may, and without notice, refuse entries of any person or transfer any entry to a class in which the horse is more competitive.

39. All entries must be filled out completely, including the name of the driver. All driver changes must be made by the time prescribed by the Judges or a fine may be imposed.

40. ALL FINES MUST BE PAID WITHIN 48 HOURS.

41. All trainers are required to fill out a stable roster sheet in the Judge’s Office. This roster will consist of all bona fide owners, trainers and grooms on his/her payroll. If an employee on a roster sheet no longer works for a stable, it MUST be reported to the Judges immediately. This will be monitored closely and anyone violating this rule will be subject to a fine and/or suspension and/or loss of racing privileges.

42. Profane or abusive language toward racing officials WILL result in a fine or suspension as well as a possible loss of racing privileges. Abusive language, fighting or any type of disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to a fine and/or suspension or possible loss of racing privileges at Raceway Park.

43. Drivers filing objections must do so with the Starter before dismounting.

44. Horses scratched sick or lame MAY be eligible to race seven (7) days from the day of the race they were scratched. A scratch or release slip must be turned into the Judges when scratching a horse or releasing a horse from the Steward’s List. Any horse put on the Steward’s List by the Track Vet must be removed by the Track Vet or someone appointed by him/her.

45. Any horse finishing “distanced” or giving a bad performance may, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGES, be placed on the Steward’s List.

46. Any horse that does not finish within qualifying time, on either a fast or good track, may be placed on the Steward’s List.

47. Any horse making a break on a good or fast track following a qualifying race must re-qualify, with the exception of a winning performance.

48. Any horse making two (2) consecutive breaks, on a fast or good track, must re-qualify. Any horse making three (3) consecutive breaks, regardless of finish, or track condition, must re-qualify.

49. All horses must “go the course”, except in the case of an accident, severely broken equipment or injury to the horse or driver. If unable to continue during a race, take to the outside fence, if possible, and dismount.

50. Excessive or indiscriminate use of the whip will be penalized. Drivers are not permitted to “one hand” until they have passed the three-quarter pole. There will be no whipping after the finish of a race.

51. Drivers will be allowed whips not to exceed forty-eight inches, plus a snapper not longer than six inches. OSRC Rule 3769-17-17.

52. Riding in a “half in half out” position during any race MAY be punishable with either a fine or a suspension.

53. No driver in the employment of another driver, trainer or owner may compete in the same race unless both drivers are part of a coupled or uncoupled entry. The driver of the second entry must be approved by the Judges.

Starter

54. All broken equipment must be reported to the Starter or Paddock Judge immediately after the race in which it was broken.

55. The horses for each race will be called out of the paddock one minute early. All horses should be ready to go when the Paddock Judge calls for them. Drivers should listen for the Starter to tell them when to turn for the post parade. Post parades MUST be conducted in a neat, orderly and professional manner.

56. Immediately after the post parade, drivers will turn their horses and proceed past the quarter pole, then score in front of the grandstand.

57. Drivers are expected to stay tightly bunched during the final score before a race; and respond together to the Starter’s call to post. All horses should be on the gate at the start of the race. Crossing over or backing out early at the start of a race WILL NOT be tolerated.

58. There will be NO recalls for breaking horses. There will be a recall for a horse with broken equipment; interference with another horse; a horse falls before the word “go” is given; a mechanical failure of the starting gate or a horse scores ahead of the starting gate.

General Procedures

59. Claiming forms must be filled out, along with the money deposited, with the Racing Office. The forms are then to be taken to the Judges Booth upstairs at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the post time of the designated race.

60. No dogs will be allowed in the stable area.

61. Children must be in the presence of an adult, and supervised at all times.

62. There will be no bathing of horses in the stalls.

63. The manure bins are for manure ONLY.

64. Tires, appliances, furniture and other large items not relevant to a racing operation must not be placed in the trash bins and dumpsters.

65. Each barn will be responsible for cleaning up around the manure bins.

66. There will be NO SMOKING allowed in the barns or paddock.

67. Horsemen may enter the grandstand with their licenses in lieu of passes.

68. In compliance with T.M.C. 1779 – City of Toledo, there will be NO SMOKING allowed in the Racing Office and its surrounding areas. This will be strictly enforced.

69. No lead lights, extension cords or heaters will be allowed in the barns.

70. The racing surface will close with gates locked every day at 2:00pm. On race days, the track will be closed at 1:00pm, and be re-opened at 4:00pm only for horses racing that night. The racing surface will be closed on Mondays.

71. Both lessees and lessors must have USTA memberships.

72. All licensees must have their licenses in their possession at all times while on Raceway Park grounds. Purse checks will only be distributed to individuals who display their license.