Pari-Mutuel Racing Under Saddle Horse Racing shall be governed by the Rules of Standardbred Racing, with the following exceptions:

All references to the word “Driver” shall be deemed to be “Rider”

All references to the word “Sulky” shall be deleted.

Chapter 2: Definitions

Racing Under Saddle (RUS) means a Standardbred trotting race where the horse is ridden, not driven.

Chapter 3: Licenses

3.10.01 Where a licensee is suspended or fined by the Judges during a Standardbred harness race, the penalty shall be reciprocated for Racing Under Saddle races, and where a licensee is suspended or fined by the Judges during a Racing Under Saddle race, the penalty shall be reciprocated for Standardbred harness races.

Chapter 6: Violations, Penalties and Expulsions

6.02 (h) failure to have proper saddle cloth on a horse when racing.

6.39 Delete

6.39.01 Only properly Commission licensed participants shall be mounted on a horse or pony on the Association grounds, and such participant is required to wear properly affixed and secured helmets and safety vests, as prescribed by Rule 6.39.02. The licensee is responsible for ensuring that his/ her helmet and safety vest meets the safety standards.

6.39.02 Where it is required under the rules, only helmets meeting the following standards shall be used:

1. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM 1163);
2. UK Standards (EN- 1384 and PAS- 015); or
3. Australian/ New Zealand Standard (AS/ NZ 3838)
4. Snell Memorial Foundations (H2000)

Where it is required under the rules, only safety vests meeting the following standards shall be used:

1. British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA: 2000 Level 1);
2. Euro Norm (EN 13158: 2000 Level 1);
3. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F2681 – 08);
4. Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association (SATRA Jockey Vest Document M6 Issue 3) or
5. Australian Racing Board (ARB Standard 1. 1998).

6.39.03 A rider shall adhere to the following equipment restrictions:

(a) Riding boots shall be worn.

(b) Riding crops shall be no longer than thirty (30) inches in length; and

(c) Spurs shall not be worn.

Chapter 11: Horses Permitted to Race

11.01.02 (d), (e), (f)    Delete.

11.01.2 (g) The horse is at least 3 years of age to race at any meeting but not older than 14 years of age.

11.01.2 (m) the horse has qualified on the trotting gait

11.02.1 Delete.

11.02.2 Delete.

11.09 For the purpose of eligibility to race at extended meetings, past performance lines charted at non-extended meetings or RUS races in Ontario, shall not be considered other than for the purpose of crediting the horses with the number of starts, wins and purse money earned at non-extended meetings or RUS races.

Chapter 12: Qualifying Races

Chapter 12 of the Standardbred Rules of Racing is deleted in its entirety, with the following exceptions:

12.01.01          Qualifying races will only be held for the trotting gait and a horse will be considered qualified for Racing Under Saddle races if it meets the following standards at the track where the horse is qualifying:

1/2 mile track – 2:08

5/8 mile track – 2:06

7/8 mile track – 2:04

12.01.02          A horse must qualify at least once on the trotting gait prior to the start of any Racing Under Saddle races in any given year, and will not need to re-qualify during that season, unless required to do so by the Judges.

12.01.03          A qualifying race scheduled for Racing Under Saddle participants must have at least three (3) horses.

Chapter 14: Overnight Events

14.03               Delete.

14.10 (c)         Delete.

14.12               There shall be no trailing horses.

Chapter 15: Claiming Races

Deleted in its entirety.

Chapter 18: Placing and Money Distribution

18.08.02          If, at a race track which does not have a continuous solid in side hub rail, a horse while on stride leaves the course by going inside the hub rail or other demarcation which constitutes the inside limits of the course, the offending horse shall be placed back where, in the opinion of the judges, the action gave the horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race, or the action helped the horse improve its position in the race. In addition, when an act of interference causes a horse to cross the inside limits of the course, and the horse is placed by the judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered. Riders, who in the opinion of the judges, leave the racing strip when not forced to do so as a result of the actions of another riders and/or horse may be fined or suspended by the Judges.

Penalties for riders violating provision of Rule 18.08.02 are as follows:

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

Chapter 22: Racing Rules

22.01 (h)         Delete.

22.05.01 A rider shall not commit any of the following acts which are considered violations of riding rules:

1. Change course or position, or swerve in or out, bump, or bear in or out during any part of the race in such a manner as to compel a horse to shorten its stride or cause another rider to change course, take his or her horse back, or pull his or her horse out of its stride;

…

22.17.01 A rider must be mounted on the horse at the finish of the race or the horse must be placed as not finishing.

22.17.02 A horse shall be placed as not finishing where the rider at any time during the running of the race was not mounted on the horse but was mounted at the finish of the race. In such case, the Judges may invoke the provisions of Rule 22.32 if they deem it in the public interest to do so.

22.19               Delete

22.20               Delete

22.21.04          Delete

22.23.03 (c) & (d)        Delete

22.23.03 At any time while on the grounds of an association, it is an offence for a rider, or the person in control of the horse, to use the whip to hit or make contact with the horse as follows:

      f. To urge the horse other than in front of the saddle on the shoulder.
      g. To strike the horse’s head with the riding crop.

22.25 Any trainer who wishes to change bridles on a horse from one race to another shall apply to the Judges 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 before granting permission. Any change of a nature which the Judges are of the opinion that the public should be advised, must be shown on the program or announced to the public before any wagering occurs on that race.

22.25.01          A trainer shall adhere to the following equipment requirements:

1. A horse shall wear a safety girth;
2. A horse shall have a bit in mouth;
3. A horse shall wear a crupper and head check;
4. A horse shall wear a breast collar or buxton; and
5. A horse shall use either Thoroughbred or Ladder reins.

22.25.02          A trainer shall adhere to the following equipment restrictions:

1. No Trotting hopples;
2. No Head or line poles;
3. No 2 ring martingales;
4. No head numbers; and
5. No snaps on reins that attach to a bit.

Chapter 25: Drivers

25.01   A person shall not ride a horse in a Racing Under Saddle race, other than an exhibition or schooling race, without having first obtained a rider licence valid for the current year by meeting the standards as laid down by Standardbred Canada or the United States Trotting Association and being licensed by the Commission.

25.01.01 A rider shall participate and be approved in at least three (3) qualifying races prior to receiving final approval of their initial Commission licence.

25.01.02 All applicants applying for renewal of a Racing Under Saddle license must complete one (1) satisfactory qualifier ride at the beginning of each season and submit to the judges for approval. If the renewal applicant has completed less than ten (10) rides during the previous three (3) years, he/she will be required to participate in at least (3) qualifying races prior to his/her licence being renewed.

25.02.01          Delete

Preamble

WHEREAS after meeting with industry stakeholders and responding to requests to consider revising the current rules and Directives with respect to urging and specifically that use of the whip be limited to wrist action only;

AND WHEREAS this rule will enhance the health and safety of horses and participants, and the integrity of racing;

AND WHEREAS on May 3, 2019 the AGCO released Standardbred Directive No. 3 – 2019 – Revision to Urging Provisions;

TAKE NOTICE the AGCO wishes to clarify that the Penalty Guidelines and assessment of the penalty are intended to have a retrospective effect;

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the Registrar rescinds Standardbred Directive No. 3

– 2019 – Revision to Urging Provisions and hereby orders the Rules of Standardbred Racing be amended effective immediately:

Chapter 22
Racing Rules

…

22.23.03 At any time while on the grounds of an Association, it is a violation of the Rules for a driver, or the person in control of the horse, to use the whip to hit or make contact with the horse as follows:

1. To raise their hand(s) above their head;
2. To use more than acceptable wrist action;
3. To cause any portion of the whip to be outside the confines of the wheels of the race bike;
4. To strike the shaft of the race bike, or the horse below the level of the shaft of the race bike;
5. To cut or severely welt a horse.

…

22.23.05 Violation of any of the provisions in Rule 22.23.01 to 22.23.04 may result in any of the following penalties: To raise their hand(s) above their head;

1. Monetary penalty;
2. Suspension;
3. Placement;
4. Disqualification; and/or
5. Any other penalty as ordered.

Further particulars in respect to the penalties are provided in Standardbred Directive No. 1 – 2020, which also provides principles which serve as a guide for interpretation. The Directive may be modified from time to time by the Registrar.

PENALTY GUIDELINES RULE 22.23

Any violation of Rule 22.23, to include subsections 22.23.01, 22.23.02, 22.23.03 and

22.23.04 is a violation and covered by this penalty structure.

VIOLATION – Inappropriate urging of the horse

VIOLATION – Cutting or Welting the horse

Application of the Guidelines will take into consideration the following:

1. This penalty structure provides guidance to Judges as to minimum penalties for inappropriate urging of the horse, and for the cutting and welting of a horse.
2. The penalty for any subsequent violation cannot be less than the previous violation, regardless of whether the violation is for inappropriate urging of the horse or for cutting and welting of a horse.
3. Any cut or welt violation shall be counted and considered by the Judges as the next violation for inappropriate urging on a cumulative basis.
4. The penalty structure is progressive in nature, irrespective of which of the encompassed rules are violated.
5. In determining whether a violation of the Rules has occurred or in assessing penalty, Judges may consider mitigating factors in exceptional circumstances. An example of conduct that may be viewed as a mitigating consideration would be striking a horse to prevent inevitable harm to another driver, horse, participant or patron.
6. In assessing penalty, Judges may also consider aggravating factors, such as the licensee’s history of violations pertaining to inappropriate urging of the horse (which violation/s occurred more than a year before the subject violation).
7. If the violation is sufficiently egregious, the Judges may depart from the penalty structure and impose higher penalties than those enumerated in the chart above.
8. Not all first infractions of the encompassed rules that occurred subsequent to the implementation of Standardbred Directive No. 3 – 2019 – Revision to Urging Provisions and Standardbred Directive No. 1 – 2020 – Revision to Urging Provisions will be treated as a first offence for the purposes of setting penalty.

DESCRIPTION OF TERMS

This Policy was established to provide more description of what constitutes a violation under the Rules regarding inappropriate urging of the horse in Ontario racing:

Indiscriminate action means unrestrained or careless activity without regard for safety or care.

For the purposes of Rule 22.23.01 (a), the following are examples of indiscriminate action but do not constitute an exhaustive list:

1. Use of the whip in any manner between the hind legs of the horse
2. Loose lining or driving the horse so as to not have control of the horse
3. Kicking the horse
4. Striking the horse with the butt end of the whip;
5. Punching the horse; or
6. Any use other than acceptable wrist action.

Excessive action means unreasonable quantity or degree.

For the purposes of Rule 22.23.01 (b), the following are examples of excessive action with respect to inappropriate urging of the horse but does not constitute an exhaustive list:

1. Use of the whip when a horse is not in contention in a race;
2. Use of the whip without giving the horse time to respond to a previous application of the use of the whip
3. Use of the whip on the horse anywhere below the level of the shaft of the race bike.

Aggressive action means inhumane, severe or brutal activity.

For the purposes of Rule 22.23.01 (c), the following are examples of aggressive action but do not constitute an exhaustive list:

1. Use of the whip on the head or in the area surrounding the head of the horse.
2. Use of any object or stimulating device and/or application; or
3. Leaving any cuts, abrasions or severe welts on the horse caused by the whip;

Loose lining means the indiscriminate action of carelessly lengthening the lines while driving so as to allow the loopy shaking of the lines (i.e. butterfly action).

Meaningful Position (22.23.02) means the horse has a reasonable opportunity to finish in an advantageous position. Examples of meaningful include, but are not limited to, maintaining qualifying times, receiving points towards future races or earning purse monies.

Confines of the wheels (22.23.03c) means that any part of the whip cannot move outside of a line which runs parallel to the horse from a point prescribed by the outside of the race bike wheel.

BACKGROUND

Under a process established by the Executive Director in the fall of 2008 to gather industry input on the appropriate use of the whip in horse racing, it was recognized that the use of the whip is a necessary tool in racing.

The following principles were agreed to and serve as a guide for all decision making on rule development:

1. Ensure the welfare of the horse
   The welfare of the horse is paramount and guides decision making in all matters
2. Promote safety for racing participants (including the horse)
   Where the safety of racing participants has been compromised, appropriate action shall be taken
3. Create simple, clear and consistent rules (and enforcement)
   To be adhered to or enforced correctly, rules must be written and communicated in a straightforward manner.
4. Address customer/public perception and education
   Shifting public sensitivity on the use of the whip in horseracing must be recognized by all industry participants, who must also do their part in educating new fans about the sport.
5. Support growth of the customer base
   Racetrack management has identified use of the whip as a barrier to increased customer growth. Participants must be involved, as our industry builds to creating a more desirable product

The outcome of the industry discussion has led to the formation of rules regarding the appropriate methods for urging a horse in racing and changes to driving styles to require a hand in each line for the entire race.

Loose lining: It was stressed by the participants that this change to driving style should not lead to the practice of “loose lining”, which means the indiscriminate action of carelessly lengthening the lines while driving so as to allow the loopy shaking of the lines (butterfly action). It was agreed that these would be the type of actions counter to the intent of the rule changes and would present an undesirable product to the wagering public.

 

BY THE ORDER OF THE REGISTRAR

 

Jean Major
Registrar