Utah Admin. Code R52-7-9 - Running the Race

1. Jockeys to Report. Each jockey engaged to ride in a race shall report to the jockey room at least one hour before post time of the first race and shall weigh out at the appointed time unless excused by the Stewards. After reporting, a jockey may not leave the jockey room until their riding engagements have been fulfilled or unless excused by the Stewards.

2. Entrance to Jockey Room Prohibited. Except with permission of the Stewards or the Commission, a person may not be permitted entrance into the jockey room from one hour before post time for the first race until after the last race other than jockeys, their attendants, racing officials and security officers on duty, and organization employees performing required duties.

3. Weighing Out. Each jockey taking part in a race shall be weighed out by the Clerk of Scales no more than one hour preceding the time designated for the race. Any overweight in excess of one pound shall be declared by the jockey to the Clerk of Scales, who shall report such overweight and any change in jockeys to the stewards for immediate public announcement. A jockey's weight includes the riding costume, racing saddle and pad; but may not include the jockey's safety helmet, whip, the horse's bridle or other regularly approved racing tack. A jockey shall be neat in appearance and shall wear a conventional riding costume.

4. Unruly Horses in the Paddock. If a horse is so unruly in the saddling paddock that the identifier cannot read the tattoo number and properly identify the horse; or if the trainer or their assistant is uncooperative in the effort to identify the horse, then the horse may be scratched by order of the Stewards.

5. Use of Equipment. No bridle shall weigh more than two pounds, nor shall any whip weigh more than one pound or be more than 31 inches in length. No whip shall be used unless it shall have affixed to the end thereof a leather "popper." Whips are subject to inspection and approval by the Stewards. Blinkers are not to be placed on the horse until after the horse has been identified by the official identifier, except with permission of the Stewards.

6. Any jockey who chooses to use a riding crop during a race shall do so only in a manner consistent with exerting their efforts to win.

A. A jockey may only use the riding crop approved by Stewards to influence a horse's speed and may not use other electrical, mechanical, or other expedient devices intended for this purpose on the racetrack facility grounds during the race meeting, whether in a race or otherwise.

B. The riding crop shall only be used for safety, correction, and limited encouragement, and be appropriate, proportionate, and professional, taking into account the racing rules.

C. Stimulus provided by the use of the riding crop shall be monitored so as not to compromise the welfare of the horse.

D. Jockeys shall adjust their use of the riding crop to the individual horse and race conditions.

E. Riders shall adhere to the following guidelines when using a riding crop, except in situations where rider safety is at risk:

a. before striking the horse, first show the horse the crop or tap the horse with the crop held downward, allowing a response; and

b. may not use the crop more than two times consecutively, allowing the horse an opportunity to respond before using the crop again.

(1) A "chance to respond" means the horse has taken three full strides and the jockey has taken one of the following actions:

i. paused use of the crop before resuming;

ii. pushed on the reins with both hands, holding the crop in either the up or down position;

iii. shown the horse the riding crop without making contact; or

iv. moved the riding crop from one hand to the other.

F. When determining whether to review a jockey's riding crop usage, Stewards will evaluate the jockey's overall use of the crop throughout the race, focusing on its use in the final stages. Some relevant factors include:

a. how the jockey used the riding crop;

b. the reason for using the riding crop;

c. the distance the jockey used the riding crop, and whether the frequency of use was reasonable and necessary; and

d. whether the horse continued to respond.

G. In the event of a Stewards review, riding crop use may be considered appropriate in the following situations:

a. to keep a horse in contention or to maintain a challenging position before the final stages of a race;

b. to maintain a horse's focus and concentration;

c. to correct a noticeably hanging horse;

d. to ensure the horse maintains a straight course; or

e. when there is only light contact with the horse.

H. Prohibited uses of the riding crop include striking a horse:

a. on the head, flanks, or any other part of its body besides the shoulders or hindquarters, except when necessary for control;

b. during the post parade or after the race has finished, except when necessary for control;

c. excessively or brutally, causing welts or breaks in the skin;

d. when the horse is clearly out of the race or has achieved its maximum placing;

e. persistently, despite the horse showing no response to the riding crop; or

f. striking another rider or horse.

7. Responsibility for Weight. The jockey, trainer, and owner shall be responsible for the weight carried by the horse after the jockey has been weighed out for the race by the clerk of scales. The trainer or owner may substitute a jockey when the engaged jockey reports an overweight in excess of two pounds.

8. Safety Equipment Required. Each person, when mounted on a race horse within the enclosure or riding in a race, shall wear a properly fastened safety helmet and flak jacket. The Commission or the Stewards may require any other person to wear a helmet and jacket when mounted on a horse within the enclosure. Safety helmets and flak jackets required are subject to approval of the Stewards or Commission.

9. Display of Colors and Post Position Numbers. In a race, each horse shall carry a conspicuous saddle cloth number, and the jockey shall wear racing colors consisting of long sleeves and a numbered helmet cover corresponding to the number of the horse that are furnished by the organization licensee.

10. Deposit of Jockey Fee. The minimum jockey mount fee for a losing mount in the race shall be on deposit with the horsemen's bookkeeper, before the time for weighing out, and failure to have a minimum fee on deposit is cause for disciplinary action and cause for the stewards to scratch the horse for which the fee is to be deposited. The organization assumes the obligation to pay the jockey fee when earned by the engaged jockey. The jockey fee shall be considered earned when the jockey is weighed out by the clerk of scales, unless, in the opinion of the Stewards, the jockey capable of riding elects to take themselves off the mount without proper cause.

11. Requirements for Horse, Trainer, And Jockey. Each horse shall be in the paddock when appointed by the Stewards before post time for their race. Each horse shall be saddled in the paddock stall designated by the paddock judge unless special permission is granted by the Stewards to saddle elsewhere. Each trainer or their assistant trainer having the care and custody of a horse shall be present in the paddock to supervise the saddling of the horse and shall give instructions as may be necessary to assure the best performance of the horse. Each jockey participating in a race shall give their best effort to facilitate the best performance of their horse.

12. Failure to Fulfill Jockey Engagements. No jockey engaged for a certain race or for a specified time may fail or refuse to abide by their agreement unless excused by the stewards.

13. Control and Parade of Horses on the Track. The horses are under the control of the starter from the time they enter the track until dispatched at the start of the race. Horses with jockey mounted shall parade and warm up carrying their weight and wearing their equipment from the paddock to the starting gate, as well as to the finish line. Any horse failing to do so may be scratched by the Stewards. After passing the stands at least once, the horses may break formation and warm up until directed to proceed to the starting gate. In the event a jockey is injured during the parade to post or at the starting gate and must be replaced, the horse shall be returned to the paddock and resaddled with the replacement jockey's equipment. The horse shall carry the replacement jockey to the starting gate.

14. Start of The Race. When the horses have reached the starting gate, they shall be placed in their starting gate stalls in the order stipulated by the starter. Except in cases of emergency, each horse shall be started by the starter from a starting gate approved by the Commission. The starter shall see that the horses are placed in their proper positions without unnecessary delay. Causes for any delay in the start shall immediately be reported to the Stewards. If, when the starter dispatches the field, the doors at the front of the starting gate stall should not open properly due to a mechanical failure of malfunction of the starting gate, the Stewards may declare the horse to be a nonstarter. Should a horse that is not previously scratched not be in the starting gate stall, causing the horse to be left when the field is dispatched by the starter, the horse shall be declared a nonstarter by the Stewards.

15. Leaving the Race Course. Should a horse leave the course while moving from the paddock to starting gate, they shall return to the course at the nearest practical point to that at which they left the course, and shall complete their parade to the starting gate from the point at which they left the course. However, should the horse leave the course to the extent that they are out of the direct line of sight of the Stewards, or if the horse cannot be returned to the course within a reasonable amount of time, the Stewards shall scratch the horse. Any horse that leaves the course or loses its jockey during the running of a race shall be disqualified and may be placed last, or the horse may be unplaced.

16. Riding Rules. In a straightaway race, each horse shall maintain position as nearly as possible in the lane in which they start. If a horse is ridden, drifts, or swerves out of their lane in a manner that they interfere with or impede another horse, it is a foul. Each jockey shall be responsible for making their best effort to control and guide their mount in a way as not to cause a foul. The stewards shall take cognizance of riding that results in a foul, irrespective of whether an objection is lodged. If in the opinion of the Stewards, a foul is committed as a result of a jockey not making their best effort to control and guide their mount to avoid a foul, whether intentionally or through carelessness or incompetence, the jockey may be penalized at the discretion of the stewards.

17. Stewards to determine Fouls and Extent of Disqualification. The Stewards shall determine the extent of interference in cases of fouls or riding infractions. They may disqualify the offending horse and place it behind other horses as in their judgment it interfered with, or they may place it last. The Stewards may determine that a horse shall be unplaced.

18. Careless Riding. A jockey may not ride carelessly or willfully so as to permit their mount to interfere with or impede any other horse in the race. A jockey may not willfully strike at another horse or jockey so as to impede, interfere with, or injure the other horse or jockey. If a jockey rides in a manner contrary to this rule, the horse may be disqualified or the jockey may be fined or suspended, or otherwise disciplined.

19. Ramifications of a Disqualification. When a horse is disqualified by the Stewards, each horse in the race owned wholly or in part by the same owner, or trained by the same trainer, may be disqualified. When a horse is disqualified for interference in a time trial race, it shall receive the time of the horse it is placed behind plus 0.01 of a second penalty, or a more exact measurement if photo finish equipment permits, and shall be eligible to qualify for the finals or consolations of the race on the basis of the assigned time.

20. Dead Heat. When a race results in a dead heat, the heat may not be run off. The purse distribution due the horses involved in the dead heat shall be divided equally between them. Prizes or trophies for which a duplicate is not awardable shall be drawn for by lot.

21. Returning to the Finish After the Race. After the race, the jockey shall return their horse to the finish and before dismounting, salute the stewards. A person may not assist a jockey in removing from their horse the equipment that is to be included in the jockey's weight except by permission of the Stewards. A person may not throw any covering over any horse at the place of dismounting until the jockey has removed the equipment that is to be included in their weight.

22. Objection - Inquiry Concerning Interference. Before the race has been declared official, a jockey, trainer or their assistant trainer, owner or their authorized agent of the horse, who has reasonable grounds to believe that their horse was interfered with or impeded or otherwise hindered during the running of a race, or that any riding rule was violated by any jockey or horse during the running of the race, may immediately make a claim of interference or foul with the Stewards or their delegate. The Stewards shall thereupon hold an inquiry into the running of the race; however, may, upon their own motion, conduct an inquiry into the running of a race. Any claim of foul, objection, or inquiry shall be immediately announced to the public.

23. Official Order of Finish. When satisfied that the order of finish is correct, that each jockey unless excused have been properly weighed in, and that the race has been properly run, in accordance with the rules of the Commission, the stewards shall declare that the order of finish is official, and it shall be announced to the public, confirmed, and the official order of finish posted for the race.

24. Time Trial Qualifiers. When two or more time trial contestants have the same qualifying time, to a degree of .001 of a second, or a more exact measurement if photo finish equipment permits, for fewer positions in the finals or consolation necessary for contestants, then a draw by lot will be conducted in accordance with Subsection R52-7-7(17). However, no contestant may draw into a finals or consolation instead of a contestant that out finished such contestant. When scheduled races are trial heats for futurities or stakes races electronically timed from the starting gates, no organization licensee shall move the starting gates or allow the starting gates to be moved until trial heats are complete, except in an emergency as determined by the Stewards.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R52-7-9

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-5, effective 2/2/2016 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2021-09, effective 4/12/2021 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-05, effective 2/23/2022 Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2025-03, effective 1/21/2025