The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Thursday, December 22, 2011 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rules, effective January 4, 2012.

CHAPTER 26

TRAINERS

Rule 26.01  A person shall not train horses, or be programmed as trainer of record at extended meetings, without first having obtained a trainer licence valid for the current year by meeting the standards for trainers, as required by Standardbred Canada or the United States Trotting Association and being licensed by the Commission. The holder of a driver’s licence issued by Standardbred Canada or the United States Trotting Association is entitled to all privileges of a trainer and is subject to all rules respecting trainers. Valid categories of licences are:

(a)  A, a full licence valid for all meetings and permitting operation of a public stable.

(b)  C, an apprentice licence valid for all meetings and permitting operation of a public stable, subject to satisfactory performance and ongoing approval of the Judges.  The Judges may impose any conditions as deemed appropriate. This licence must be held for a minimum period of six months before applying to the Judges for an upgrade to an “A” licence.

(b) (c)  F, a licence restricted to the training of horses while owned by the holder and/or his or her immediate family at all race meetings.  Any “F” trainer who wishes to upgrade his/her licence must first upgrade to “C”.  If the trainer has satisfied the requirements of the “C” licence in the past, at the discretion of the Judges that trainer may be upgraded to “A”.

Rule 26.01.01  The Judges may review the performance of a trainer at any time and may take the following actions:

(i)  amend the licence category;

(ii)  recommend that the Director revoke the licence;

(iii)  apply conditions to the licence, or

(iv)  require the trainer to re-qualify for his or her licence in accordance with Standardbred Canada regulations.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Wednesday, January 4, 2012 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rule, effective January 9, 2012.

Chapter 3

LICENCES

Rule 3.02.02  Each Association shall ensure that it has an agreement with either of the following for the purposes of Section 3(1)(c)(iii) of the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations:

1. a horsepeople’s organization licensed pursuant to Rule 3.02.01; or
2. individuals licensed in good standing by the Commission and racing at that Association.

Failure to comply with this rule may result in fines or suspension.  

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

WHEREAS the use of 3rd party staking services has increased over the last number of years;

AND WHEREAS the ORC wishes to ensure that staking payments made to 3rd parties are processed and notification made in a timely way;

TAKE NOTICE that Standardbred Rule 16.18 is hereby immediately amended to ensure that all staking payments made are properly accounted;

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the ratification of the amended Rule 16.18 by the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission shall occur on Thursday, February 23, 2012;

Chapter 16

ADDED MONEY EVENTS

Rule 16.18  Nomination and sustaining payments must be received by the sponsor not later than the hour of closing, except those made by mail or by electronic transaction. Payments made by mail must bear a postmark dated thereon not later than the hour of closing. Payments made by electronic transaction to a third party providing a staking service must be processed and the sponsor notified, not later than the hour of closing. In the event the hour of closing falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the hour of closing shall be extended to the same hour of the next business day. The hour of closing shall be midnight of the due date. 

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Thursday, April 26, 2012 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rules, effective immediately.

Chapter 1

PRELIMINARY

Rule 1.02  Standardbred racing shall be conducted in accordance with the rules, Commission directives, conditions of licences granted by the Director or the Commission, track rules approved by the Director, and any other applicable laws and regulations. In case of conflict, the Rules of Standardbred Racing shall supersede the conditions of a horse race and the regulations of the Association.

Chapter 2

DEFINITIONS

Commission Veterinarian means a person employed by the Commission and licensed in good standing with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.

Official Chemist means a person approved as the Official Chemist pursuant to the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations.

Official Sample means a sample of blood, saliva, urine or other bodily substance that has, in accordance with the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations, been obtained from a horse.

Official Veterinarian means a person employed by the Association and licensed in good standing with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.

Chapter 3

LICENCES

3.05.01  The licence fees, paid to the Commission by people involved in racing, are set by the Commission. An applicant for a licence will not be considered a renewal if the licence has been in a state of lapse for five racing seasons prior to the season of application.

Chapter 8

COMMISSION VETERINARIANS, OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS, AND OTHER VETERINARIANS

Rule 8.08.01  A veterinarian shall maintain and keep the records required pursuant to the Rules for not less than two clear years and shall make such records available to the Director, Judge or their delegates upon request.

Chapter 19

TIME AND RECORDS

Rule 19.04  In order that performances thereon may be recognized or published as official, every association shall have filed with the Commission the certificate of a duly licensed civil engineer or land surveyor that the track has been measured from wire to wire three feet out from the pylons, which constitute the inside limits of the course and certifying exactly the result of such measurement. Each track shall be measured and re-certified in the event of any changes or relocation of the pylons, which constitute the inside limits of the course.

Chapter 35

ONTARIO STANDARDBRED EXERCISE INDUCED PULMONARY HAEMORRHAGE (EIPH) PROGRAM

Rule 35.01.02  Any person providing false or misleading information on Form 1 or Form 2 may be subject to a suspension and or fine being levied by the Judges or by the Commission.

Rule 35.02.02  Any owner or trainer who intends to race a horse within the EIPH Program that is properly certified as per Rule 35.02.01 is required to submit the Form 1 certificate to a Standardbred Canada representative. The Standardbred Canada representative shall cause the form 1 to be entered into the Standardbred Canada computer data indicating that the subject horse has been certified to receive Furosemide.  Such information shall be entered into the computer by the Standardbred Canada representative at or before the time of the entry of the horse into the race following the date upon which it was certified.

Rule 35.02.03  Delete.

Rule 35.03  If a horse to which Form 2 applies and with respect to which enrolment is sought in the EIPH Program has not been enrolled prior to the time of entry of the subject race, such enrolment may be extended to immediately prior to the time it is required to receive Furosemide on the date of the first occasion in which it races in Ontario and seeks certification.  Such extension of time is solely within the discretion of the judges and may be granted by them if evidence is presented by the owner or trainer or the authorized representative of the owner or trainer of the subject horse that the horse has raced on Furosemide in such other jurisdictions where the use of Furosemide is authorized.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, June 26, 2012 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rules, effective immediately.

Chapter 5
JUDGES AND RACING OFFICIALS

5.03  At all extended pari-mutuel race meetings there shall be the following licensed racing officials approved by the Director;

1. Judges
2. Race secretary and/or assistant race secretary
3. Timers
4. Charter
5. Starter
6. A patrol judge or patrol judges in accordance with rule 33.01
7. Paddock judge
8. Equipment inspector/horse identifier
9. Assistant paddock judge
10. Paddock security custodian
11. Paddock security guard
12. Chief test inspector and test inspectors.
13. Placing Judge

Chapter 7
RACING ASSOCIATIONS

7.18  Associations or their delegate shall keep on file, race patrol film or video of each race for reference or reproduction upon request of the Commission for one year after the last racing day of the previous year.

Chapter 22
RACING RULES

22.38.01  Approved TCO2 Laboratory

In any part of Rule 22.38, “approved TCO2 laboratory” means a laboratory approved by the Commission under 22.38.02, to conduct the testing of standardbred horses in accordance with Rule 22.38.05.

22.38.02  Laboratory Approval Process

The Commission may approve a laboratory under Rule 22.38.01, if:

<continued>….

22.38.05          Replace (RAHT) - Registered Animal Health Technician with Registered Veterinarian Technician    

Chapter 33
PATROL JUDGES AND PLACING JUDGES

33.03  The Placing Judge shall:

1. be appointed by the association
2. be subject to supervision by the Judges
3. occupy the photo finish stand 15 minutes prior to the first race post time
4. record all horses in their order of finish of every race.
5. produce a photo at the request of the Judges

33.04  In determining the places of the horses at the finish of a race, the Placing Judge shall consider only the relative position of the respective noses of such horses.

33.05  The Placing Judge in consultation with the Judges shall cause to be prominently displayed to the public the numbers of the first four horses in the order of finish and shall be responsible for recording the remainder of the field.

33.06  When the Placing Judges differ in their placements, the Judges shall inspect the print prior to the official sign being posted and the decision of the Judges shall prevail.

33.07  The Judges shall confirm with the photo finishing and Placing Judges as to the result of every race by declaring the result official, and the word “Official” shall be flashed or other wise placed on the totalizator board, in a manner in which it may be clearly seen from any part of the grandstand.

33.08  Nothing in the Rules shall be construed to prevent the placing judges, with the approval of the Judges, from correcting an error before the display of the “Official” sign or from recalling the “Official” sign in case it has been displayed through error.

33.09  On all tracks a proper camera shall be installed as an aid to the Placing Judge; however, in all cases, the camera is merely an aid and the decision of the Judges shall be final.

33.10  Photo finish photographs shall not be released to anyone for publication without permission of the Judges, except to the Association for its public display at the racetrack at which racing is being conducted.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

The Executive Director approved the following changes to the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2008, effective July 31, 2012, subject to ratification by the Board of the Commission at its September Board meeting.

CHAPTER 5
JUDGES AND RACING OFFICIALS

Rule 5.02.01  At a non-extended race meeting, there shall be a minimum of one Judge employed by the holder of a permit to conduct pari-mutuel betting, who shall be accredited as a Judge by Standardbred Canada. The Judge shall carry out the duties and responsibilities specified in the Rules & Regulations of Standardbred Canada, as amended from time to time.  All decisions of the Judge shall be in accordance with the Rules & Regulations of Standardbred Canada.

CHAPTER 11
TRAINERS 

Rule 11.01.01  A horse shall not be permitted to enter or start unless:

1. it is duly registered with and approved by the registry office of Standardbred Canada or the United States Trotting Association (USTA), subject to requirements under 11.01.02.

Notwithstanding that a horse is registered with the USTA, any horse registered with the USTA that would not meet the registry requirements set out by Standardbred Canada shall not be eligible to race.

Rule 11.01  Renumbered 11.01.02

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

Original Signed

John L. Blakney
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission at its meeting of Thursday, December 20, 2012 resolved that the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2012 be amended by the promulgation of the following Rules, effective immediately.

CHAPTER 9

OFFICIAL SAMPLES AND POSITIVE TESTS

Revised Rule 9.12.02  Only the owner, trainer or designated representative of the trainer, to a maximum of two persons having a valid Commission licence on their person, are permitted to have care, custody or control of a horse in the retention area. Failure to present the licence may result in a fine and / or suspension.

CHAPTER 15

CLAIMING RACES

New Rule 15.16.01  Transfer of possession of a claimed horse to the successful claimant or their representative shall take place in the paddock immediately after the running of the race. The horse’s halter must accompany the horse. Altering or removing the horse’s shoes prior to transfer is not permitted.

New Rule 15.16.02  Notwithstanding the requirements under 15.16.01, in the case where a claimed horse must submit for post race testing, physical custody of the claimed horse shall transfer from the original owner to the successful claimant outside the retention area following completion of the test and after the sample tags have been signed by the original owner or their representative.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

Steve Lehman
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission resolved on February 5, 2013 to permit variances to the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2012 for the last race of each of Western Fair District (WFD)’s race cards for the period February 7 to May 31, 2013. This decision of the Board will be confirmed at its next meeting.

CHAPTER 14

OVERNIGHT EVENTS

Rule 14.12  In overnight events, not more than one trailer shall be permitted, regardless of the size of the track. At least eight feet per horse must be provided the starters in the front tier. Exceptions on field sizes can be granted with the written permission of the Commission.

Variance granted

WFD is permitted a variance to Rule 14.12, which limits the number of trailers in overnight races to 1.  WFD is permitted 2 trailers in the last race of each race card.

CHAPTER 18

PLACING AND MONEY DISTRIBUTION

Rule 18.01  Unless otherwise provided in the conditions, all purses shall be distributed on the dash basis with the money awarded according to a horse’s position in each separate dash or heat of the race. Purse money distribution in overnight events shall be limited to five monies.

Variance granted

WFD is permitted a variance to Rule 18.01, which limits the purse distribution in overnight races to 5^th place. WFD is permitted to distribute purse monies to 6^th place for the last race of each race card.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

Steve Lehman
Executive Director

The Ontario Racing Commission on February 25, 2016 gave approval to extend the variance to the Rules of Standardbred Racing 2012 as outlined in Standardbred Directive Number 3-2013 until such time as a complete review and substantive revisions of the Rules of Racing are completed.

CHAPTER 14

OVERNIGHT EVENTS

Rule 14.12  In overnight events, not more than one trailer shall be permitted, regardless of the size of the track. At least eight feet per horse must be provided the starters in the front tier. Exceptions on field sizes can be granted with the written permission of the Commission.

Variance granted

WFD is permitted a variance to Rule 14.12, which limits the number of trailers in overnight races to 1.  WFD is permitted 2 trailers in two races per race card.

CHAPTER 18

PLACING AND MONEY DISTRIBUTION

Rule 18.01  Unless otherwise provided in the conditions, all purses shall be distributed on the dash basis with the money awarded according to a horse’s position in each separate dash or heat of the race. Purse money distribution in overnight events shall be limited to five monies.

Variance granted

WFD is permitted a variance to Rule 18.01, which limits the purse distribution in overnight races to 5^th place. WFD is permitted to distribute purse monies to 6^th place for the two races per race card that carry the extra trailers.

 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

 

Jean Major
Executive Director