Thoroughbred — Chapter 3: Racing Associations
3.01 Associations failing to comply with any rule in this chapter or a Track Rule, may be subject to a monetary penalty, suspension, or revocation.
3.02 An Association shall not:
- Operate a racetrack at which racing is conducted without applying for a licence, race dates and the post time for the first race of each program of racing on each race date and having them approved by the Registrar;
- Change its race dates or the post time for the first race on any race date by more than 30 minutes, without having such change approved by the Registrar; or
- Operate a racetrack without payment of the monthly fee for regulatory funding.
3.02.01 Deleted.
3.03 A decision of the Registrar regarding approval or non-approval of race dates is not subject to appeal.
3.03.01 Deleted.
3.03.2 Deleted.
3.04 Before performing their duties, all Officials of an Association shall be approved in writing by the Registrar. The Registrar’s approval or non-approval is not subject to appeal.
3.04.01 Deleted.
3.04.02 Deleted.
3.04.03 Deleted.
3.04.04 Deleted.
3.04.05 Deleted.
3.04.06 Deleted.
3.05 An Association shall provide facilities necessary for the Commission’s designated representatives to carry out their duties for the purposes of licensing and pre and post races duties.
3.06 Associations conducting extended meetings shall provide a paddock. The paddock must be constructed and monitored so as to exclude unauthorized persons.
3.07 Associations conducting extended meetings shall provide a paddock that at minimum:
- includes the services of a blacksmith during racing hours;
- ensures suitable extra equipment necessary to prevent unnecessary delay to the racing program; and
- includes direct communication facilities to the Stewards’ stand.
3.08 Each Association shall prevent the admission of any person in and around the stables except persons having valid business or who are duly licensed by the Commission.
3.09 An Association shall provide a Stewards’ stand that:
- allows Stewards to carry out their duties;
- allows Stewards to communicate to Jockeys and Apprentice Jockeys any health or safety concern on the racetrack;
- ensures security and safety; and
- is acceptable to the Registrar.
3.10 Races shall not be conducted until, in the opinion of the Steward, the Association has caused the racing surface to be suitably prepared for racing.
3.11 An Association shall have present and readily available during all races and timed work outs appropriate ambulance or mobile first aid vehicles, that are able to respond to a health or safety concern involving a participant or patron.
3.12 An Association shall have a horse ambulance readily available during races and timed work outs.
3.13 When a racing Association is conducting racing, it shall reserve sufficient accommodation in its receiving barn for horses that are stabled elsewhere and the trainers of horses racing each day shall have their horses in the receiving barn 4 hours prior to post time for the first race of the race program in which it races.
3.14 When any horse which is not stabled on the Association grounds where racing is being conducted arrives on a track to race, the trainer or their attendant shall so inform the receiving barn attendant at least 4 hours prior to post time for the first race of the race program in which it races, and the receiving barn attendant shall inform the appropriate officials, including Commission Veterinarian or Official Veterinarian.
3.15 An Association is responsible for the general supervision and security of its premises.
3.15.01 An Association shall develop security measures to make restricted areas on their premises safe for the protection of licensees and property that is used in the business of racing. These security measures must be acceptable to the Registrar.
3.15.02 Any Association allowing a suspended, disqualified or excluded person or horse to participate in racing after notice from the Registrar, shall be subject to a monetary penalty for each violation.
3.15.03 An Association during the hours of racing shall not permit any unlicensed children to be admitted to the stable area unless in the custody and under the supervision of an adult at all times, or unless otherwise stipulated by the Registrar.
3.15.04 No Association shall allow a person under 18 years of age to purchase or cash a ticket. For the purposes of this rule, a “ticket” is defined as a receipt or voucher that is issued by an Association for one or more bets on a race or races. The Association shall ensure that signs are clearly posted in all areas where tickets are purchased or cashed or on any Association wagering application forms, advising the public of the age restriction, unless otherwise stipulated by the Registrar.
3.16.01 An Association shall not make a condition of entry requiring a licensee to consent to Association personnel or their agent(s) entering the licensee’s property, including public training centres that the licensee occupies, for the purposes of conducting search and seizure.
3.16.02 An Association is prohibited from collecting biological samples from a horse without the Registrar’s prior approval. The Registrar’s approval or non-approval is not subject to appeal.
3.16.03 Deleted.
3.16.04 Deleted.
3.16.05 Deleted.
3.16.06 Deleted.
3.16.07 Deleted.
3.16.08 Deleted.
3.16.09 Deleted.
3.16.10 Deleted.
3.16.12 Deleted.
3.16.13 Deleted.
3.17 Deleted.
3.17.01 Associations shall have a system in place that ensures timely and accurate distribution of purses in accordance with the Rules of Racing.
3.17.02 Any licensee entitled to receive a purse payment from an Association, or horseperson’s organization of which the licensee is a member, may request from an Association a summary report. The request must be made within one year from the end of the relevant meeting. The summary report shall include the total purses paid, the source of all funds, and the stakes paid as a percentage of the total purses paid. An Association shall provide the summary report within 30 days of the request.
3.17.03 The Association shall ensure that any person who is entitled to a purse or other payment from the monies that are intended for purposes of purses shall receive the purse or other payment. Where the person who is entitled to such purse or other payment cannot be located within two years of the end of the meeting, the Association may, consider the monies as monies received for purposes of purses in the subsequent meeting.
3.17.04 At the request of the Registrar, at the close of each meeting, an Association shall provide a report to the Registrar with any of the following:
- the handle;
- paid attendance;
- total purses paid;
- provincial government revenue from wagering; or
- Association revenue from wagering for each meeting.
3.18.01 Any owner, jockey or trainer who had a horse start in a race can make a written request to the Stewards to view the race video. The Stewards shall fix a time for the viewing, which shall be held as soon as practical after the race in question. At least one of the three Stewards shall attend the viewing explain to those present what happened in the race.
3.18.02 A Steward may require a licensee to attend a special showing of a race for the purposes of training or education.
3.18.03 Associations or their delegate shall keep on file, race video of each race for one year after the last racing day of the previous year.
3.19.01 All track rules are subject to approval by the Registrar.
3.19.02 The Registrar may approve a track rule that varies the Rules of Racing for any reason including where that variation addresses local issues specific to operations.
3.19.03 Commission Officials and Stewards may enforce track rules and monetary penalties or suspensions may be imposed. Enforcement includes issuing a ruling and collecting a penalty.
3.19.04 A “suspension” in a track rule can only refer to a suspension of licence and cannot be used to refer to loss of privileges to access the property of an association.
3.19.05 A track rule cannot add an additional penalty on a Rule of Racing except a penalty that may be applied by an association as it relates to the conduct of their employees.
3.19.06 A track rule cannot require membership in a horseperson’s association.
3.19.07 Where the Association wishes to reference a Rule of Racing in a track rule, they must clearly and specifically identify the Rule of Racing.
3.19.08 Associations shall post track rules in the paddock and the race office and may post electronically.
3.20 If an Association requires the registration of colours as a condition of racing, the Association shall have all requirements for registration of colours outlined in its track rules. However, any track rules related to colours shall not be adopted for the purposes of Rules of Racing, and the AGCO will not enforce or issue penalties with respect to colours pursuant to the Rules of Racing. An Association’s requirements for the registration of colours shall include a dispute resolution mechanism.