Last Updated: 
2010-09-01

The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Wednesday, July 28, 2010 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rules, effective September 15, 2010, except where noted otherwise.

Please note:  Additions to rules are noted in bold.

Chapter 2

DEFINITIONS

Preference Date means a date in which a horse has been drawn in to start.

Chapter 6

VIOLATIONS, FINES, SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS

Rule 6.02  Violation of the following shall make offenders liable to a fine or suspension:

  1. failure to drive when programmed without having been excused by the Judges;
  2. use of offensive  or profane language;
  3. Delete;
  4. Failure to wear silks when warming up a horse prior to racing;
  5. Disturbing the peace;
  6. Failure to have proper saddle cloth on a horse when warming up for a race;
  7. Failure to participate in, or being late for a post parade without permission of the Judges; or
  8. Failure to have proper head number and saddle cloth on a horse when racing;
  9. Smoking is prohibited within 10 feet of any designated signed areas, stall, tack room, shedrow or any portion of a barn including the paddock. For the purpose of this rule, the paddock will include the cafeteria, drivers’/jockeys’ change room, washrooms and offices within the paddock area. Smoking shall also be prohibited on the racetrack:
    1. while mounted on a race horse or pony and /or
    2. while warming up a horse within two hours of post time of the first race or during the race card.

Penalty for an infraction of Rule 6.02(i):

  • First offence will result in a $50 fine,
  • Second offence within a year of the first offence will result in a $300 fine or a 5 day suspension or both,
  • Third offence within a year of the first offence will result in a minimum fine of $500 and a 7 day suspension,
  • Fourth offence within a year of the first offence will result in a indefinite suspension and referral to the Director.

Rule 6.48.02  The holder of a licence as an owner and/or trainer issued by the Commission shall constitute permission to allow a person designated by the Director to collect or otherwise obtain biological samples from any horse owned and/or trained by a licencee, for purposes of testing. Samples may be collected and tested at any time, whether stabled on or off the grounds of the racing association. Where a blood sample has been collected for purposes of TC02 testing, that sample may be used for testing for the indication of the administration of erythropoietin or any of its synthetic derivatives, and/or any other substance as designated by the Director. The application for a licence as an owner and/or trainer issued by the Commission shall constitute permission for a person designated by the Director to obtain that blood sample for such purposes.

NEW Rule 6.53  No person shall administer, attempt to administer, or cause to be administered, any medication by a nasogastric tube to a horse on race day prior to its race, except for emergency treatment, which treatment will result in the horse being scratched from the race.

Chapter 8

COMMISSION VETERINARIANS, OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS
AND OTHER VETERINARIANS

Rule 8.14  A veterinarian who dispenses a drug or medication shall label the container in which the drug or medication is dispensed with the following information:

  1. name, strength and quantity of the drug or medication,
  2. date dispensed,
  3. name and address of the dispensing veterinarian,
  4. identity of the horse for which it is prescribed,
  5. name of the trainer of the horse, and
  6. the directions for use and the detection limit determined in accordance with Rule 8.10.01,
  7. In the event that the a drug or medication is to be dispensed to multiple horses from a single container, such container shall be marked “BARN USE”, and will be exempt from items 2 and 4 above and replaced by a written log, in the prescribed form, identifying the horses for which the drug or medication was prescribed, the date dispensed and all other information required in the prescribed form.

(Effective date of this amendment shall be subject to the closing of the public process)

Chapter 15

CLAIMING RACES

Rule 15.09  A claimed horse, regardless of ownership, shall only race at a track or tracks in the province of Ontario for the next 60 days, except where such horse has been nominated to participate in an added money event before it was claimed, or unless the track where the horse was claimed closes for more than 30 days. In the case of a track closing for more than 30 days, the horse is released from the provisions of this rule the day after the track closes. For the purposes of this rule, racetracks operated by Woodbine Entertainment Group shall be considered one track. Any person who violates this rule shall be subject to a suspension or fine of 10% of the claiming price or 100% of the purse for each race, whichever is greater and the horse may be suspended. A claimant shall be held in violation of this rule if he or she disposes of the horse in any manner other than by claiming and the horse races outside of the Province of Ontario within 60 days of the horse being claimed.

Chapter 17

DECLARATIONS AND DRAWING OF POST POSITIONS

Rule 17.10  Starters and also eligibles for overnight events shall be drawn by lot from horses properly declared to start, except that preference shall be given according to a horse’s last scheduled start in a purse race, other than races designated as schooling races, at the gait for which it is declared.  In addition, preference shall be governed by the following:

  1. if more than the required number of horses are declared in with the same   preference date, the previous two preference dates shall apply. A race secretary may draw by lot if more than two previous preference dates are identical. These procedures are to be carried out at the time of the draw in the presence of licensed participants;
  2. when a horse is racing for the first time at the gait declared, it shall have preference over other horses regardless of their preference dates;
  3. if a declaration is made for a horse that has already been drawn in to start in a race that has not yet been contested, the date of that uncontested race shall be its preference date;
  4. the declarer shall be responsible for providing acceptable evidence of exact preference dates governed by eligible declarations or starts in uncontested races made at other tracks;
  5. when a race has been reopened for additional declarations, preference shall be given to those horses eligible and declared at the time declarations closed originally;
  6. if conditions so specify, preference can be given to two-year-olds, regardless of preference date;
  7. if a horse was scratched due to error or negligence by an official or employee of the association;
  8. when otherwise determined by the Judges;
  9. not withstanding Rule 22.33.

Rule 17.12.02  If 17.12.01 (a) or (b) applies to an owner, the horse may race as a separate betting interest, with the approval of the Judges, if the owner is not required to be licensed under the rules, or is an added money event.              

Chapter 18

PLACING AND MONEY DISTRIBUTION

Rule 18.08.02  A horse while on stride, or part of the horse’s sulky, that leaves the race course by going inside the pylons which constitutes the inside limits of the course, when not forced to do so as a result of the actions of another driver and/or horse, shall be in violation of this rule.  In addition, when an act of interference causes a horse, or part of the horse’s sulky, to cross inside the pylons and the horse is placed by the Judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered.

For purposes of placing the following shall apply:

  1. If a horse while on stride, or part of the horse’s sulky, goes inside two (2) consecutive pylons, the offending horse shall be placed behind all horses that are lapped on to the offending horse at the wire,
  2. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse’s sulky, goes inside three (3) or more consecutive pylons, the offending horse shall be placed last,
  3. If in the opinion of the Judges a horse while on stride, or part of the horse’s sulky, goes inside a pylon(s) and that action gave the horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race or the action helped improve its position in the race, the horse may be placed at the discretion of the Judges.

Drivers who in the opinion of the Judges leave the racing course when not forced to do so as a result of another driver and/or horse may be fined or suspended.

Penalties for drivers violating Rule 18.08.02 are as follows:

  • for the 1st offence, a fine of $100 shall be assessed;
  • for the 2nd offence within a year of the 1st offence and within 750 drives of the 1st offence, a fine of $300 shall be assessed;
  • for the 3rd offence within a year of the 1st offence and within 750 drives of the 1st offence, a minimum fine of $500 plus a suspension for 3 days shall be assessed;
  • for the 4th offence within a year of the 1st offence and within 750 drives of the 1st offence, a minimum fine of $1,000 and a suspension for 5 days shall be assessed.

Chapter 20

JUDGES’ AND VETERINARIANS’ LISTS

Rule 20.03.01  Where a horse, entered to race, is scratched by the judges, as a result of the horse having received any:

  1. medication;
  2. medical treatment; or
  3. medical procedure;

the judges may impose a fine upon the trainer of the horse unless the trainer satisfies the judges that the medication, medical procedure or treatment was in the best interests of the health of the horse.

Chapter 22

RACING RULES

Rule 22.25  Any trainer who wishes to change any bridle, hopples, length of hopples or shoes on a horse from one race to another shall apply to the Judges at least one (1) hour prior to the first scheduled post time of the day, or a time prescribed by the Association, for permission to do so, and no change shall be made without such permission. The Judges shall assure themselves of the necessity for any change of bridles, hopples, length of hopples or shoes before granting permission. Any such change, or change(s) of a nature which the Judges are of the opinion that the public should be advised shall be communicated to the public as soon as possible.

NEW Rule 22.32.01  Where, after the horses were released at the starting point the Judges determine that due to exceptional circumstances a race was prevented from having a fair chance to be contested, in the interest of the public the judges may order the race stopped.

Rule 22.38.05  All horses that race are eligible to be selected by the Judges for blood gas testing. The entry of a horse shall constitute permission for a person designated by the approved TC02 laboratory to obtain blood samples. To the extent that it is feasible, the owner, trainer or other person responsible for the horse will be given notice that the horse is to be tested and may be present when the blood sample is taken. Refusal by an owner, trainer or other person responsible for the horse to attend the taking of the sample will not affect the validity of the test. Any owner, trainer or other person responsible for the horse who refuses or fails to permit the taking of a sample from a horse shall have all applicable horses scratched by the Judges. Such refusal shall be deemed an admission of a violation of Rule 22.38 empowering the Judges to hold a hearing whereby the penalties contemplated by 22.38.06 may be imposed. It shall be the responsibility of the trainer of a horse selected for post-race testing to see that the horse is taken directly to the testing barn or retention area immediately after being notified of the horse’s selection for testing.

Commission Judges will select the horses to be tested and advise the approved TC02 laboratory personnel accordingly. Commission Judges may also instruct the approved TC02 laboratory personnel to collect samples from every horse in selected races.

The approved TC02 laboratory is responsible for:

  1. collecting blood samples, by an authorized person (veterinarian or RAHT – Registered Animal Health Technician, or other person approved by the Commission) from each selected horse into two plasma separator tubes;
  2. collecting the samples within approximately 20 minutes immediately preceding the start of the race in which the selected horse is entered, or as directed by an ORC Judge. The ORC Judges may also direct the collection of the sample from a selected horse at least 90 minutes after a race in a secured area designated by the Judges;
  3. ensuring that the samples are centrifuged within approximately 20 minutes of collection and kept under refrigerated conditions until shipped;
  4. shipping the samples to the laboratory in an insulated container;
  5. analysing samples for TC02 using a Beckman Synchron EL-ISE;
  6. analysing samples within 48 hours, or up to a maximum of 96 hours in exceptional circumstances, of collection and reporting all results to the Commission and the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency.

NEW Rule 22.39  An owner and/or trainer wishing to race a horse upon the grounds of an association in accordance with the regulations set forth by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency for the use of penicillin G procaine must so declare on the applicable form which fulfills the requirements of the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency. This form must be signed by the  horse’s  veterinarian or trainer and deposited in a locked box in a place designated by the Ontario Racing Commission or provided to  a test inspector no later than one half (½) hour before the post time of the race in which the horse is entered.

Chapter 31

STANDARDBRED CANADA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE

Rule 31.01  A Standardbred Canada field representative shall:

<continued>

b)  input to and maintain accurately the Standardbred Canada database, including:

<continued>

            (xi)   Delete

<continued>

  Chapter 37

OUT OF COMPETITION PRAGRAM

Rule 37.02  When an order for a biological sample has been made by the Director, the samples will be taken by a veterinarian employed by the Commission, an Official Veterinarian, or a qualified person approved by the Commission Supervisor of Veterinarians, to determine whether or not the horse has any drug, medication or other substance in its system.

NEW Rule 37.09  Owners and/or trainers of horses shall allow a person designated by the Director access at any time, whether on or off the grounds of a racing association, to the following:

  1. stabling areas;
  2. training areas; and/or
  3. trailers used for the transportation of horses and vehicles.

Access shall be granted for the purposes of:

  1. conducting unannounced random searches for illegal or non-therapeutic medications or drugs, including any drug, substance, article or medication listed in Rule 6.46.01, or other device described in the rules; and/or
  2. seizing any suspected illegal or non-therapeutic medication or drugs, including any drug, substance, article or medication listed in Rule 6.46.01, or other device described in the rules. Any medication, drug, substance, article or device seized may be forwarded by the Commission to the official chemist for analysis.

For the purposes of Rule 37.09, a horse shall be deemed to be:

  1. a horse that has raced in the past 60 days or is within 60 days of racing and/or qualifying;
  2. a horse qualified to race in Ontario;
  3. a horse entered to race in Ontario; and/or
  4. a registered standardbred horse.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

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