205 CMR 4.15 - Jockey

(1) Eligibility.

(a) No person younger than 18 years old shall be licensed by the Commission as a jockey, except persons who have been licensed by this or other recognized Commission prior to April 12, 2013.

(b) A jockey shall pass a physical examination given within the previous 12 months by a licensed physician affirming fitness to participate as a jockey. The stewards may require that any jockey be reexamined and may refuse to allow any jockey to ride pending completion of such examination.

(c) An applicant shall show competence by prior licensing and the demonstration of riding ability, which may include participation in up to five races with the prior approval of the stewards with the consideration of the recommendations from the starter, the head outrider, and the designated representatives of the jockeys and the horsemen at the track. The demonstration of riding ability is defined at a minimum of:

1. Breaking with a horse in company from the starting gate;

2. Working a horse in company around the turn and down the stretch;

3. Switching the riding crop from one hand to the other while maintaining control of the horse in a stretch drive;

4. Causing a horse to switch leads coming out of the turn.

(d) A jockey shall not be an owner or trainer of any horse competing at the race meeting where the jockey is riding.

(e) A person whose weight exceeds 130 pounds at the time of application shall not be licensed as a jockey.

(2) All jockeys shall faithfully fulfill all engagements in respect to racing.

(3) In riding a race a jockey must be neat in appearance. All riders must wear a protective helmet and safety vest of a type in compliance with 205 CMR 4.11(6)(c)6. through 8.; jacket of silk, satin or waterproof, white or light colored breeches, and top boots.

(4) A jockey must wear the colors of the owner or owners of the horse he or she is riding (except by special permission of the Stewards) and a number on his or her right arm corresponding to the number of the horse in the official program.

(5) A jockey shall not be allowed to smoke in public while wearing racing colors.

(6) No jockey in racing attire shall enter the betting area.

(7) A jockey shall only be allowed to wager on a race in which he or she is riding. A jockey shall only be allowed to wager if:

(a) the owner or trainer of the horse which the jockey is riding makes the wager for the jockey;

(b) the jockey only wagers on his or her own mount to win or finish first in combination with other horses in multiple type wagers; and

(c) records of such wagers are kept and available for presentation upon request by the stewards.

(8) A jockey shall not compete in any race against a horse which is trained by the jockey's spouse.

(9) A jockey's fee shall be considered earned when the jockey is weighed out by the clerk of scales. In the event an owner or trainer elects to remove a jockey from his or her mount after naming a rider at the time of the draw, the stewards may require a double jockey fee to be paid. The fee to be paid is equal to that earned by the jockey who rode the horse. The fee shall not be considered earned when a jockey(s), of their own free will, take themselves off their mounts, where injury to the horse or rider is not involved. Any conditions or considerations not covered by 205 CMR 4.15(8) shall be at the discretion of the stewards. All jockey protests must be filed prior to the race.

(10) In a dead heat the jockeys involved shall divide equally the sum total of the fees they would have received individually had one beaten the other or others. Likewise the owners of the horses involved shall pay their equal share.

(11) A jockey who is serving a suspension of ten days or less may be permitted to ride in a designated race during the suspension if the following apply:

(a) The race has been specified as a designated race by the racing secretary of the association before the beginning of the race meeting of the association.

(b) The race has been approved as a designated race by the board of stewards officiating at the race meeting.

(c) The jockey is named to ride in the designated race no later than at the time set for the close of entries for the race.

(d) The jockey agrees to serve an additional day of suspension in place of the day on which the jockey rides in a designated race.

(e) Reciprocity of 205 CMR 4.15(11) shall be at the stewards' sole discretion and shall apply only to those states which have also adopted the designated race rule or its equivalent.

(12) A jockey temporarily suspended may be permitted to exercise or gallop horses during the morning hours and to lodge on the grounds of the association at night. In the discretion of the Stewards his or her badge may be taken up and they may refuse him or her admission to the grounds during racing hours.

(13) A forfeiture must be paid by the jockey himself or herself and any other person paying it shall be subject to punishment.

(14) Every jockey may have one agent and no more. All engagements to ride, other than those for his or her contract employer, shall be made by himself or herself, his or her agent or his or her employer.

Notes

205 CMR 4.15