Section 1472 - Rail Construction and Track Specifications(a) All racing surfaces, including turf courses, shall have an inner rail, and an outer rail or shadow fence designed to meet the same impact standards as a permanent rail. (1) Racing surfaces used for standardbred racing shall have an inner rail or pylons, and an outer rail or shadow fence designed to meet the same impact standards as a permanent rail.(2) If pylons are used, no obstacle shall be placed within an area extending 25 feet from the inner boundary of the racing surface.(b) All rail posts, except portable, auxiliary, or chute rail posts, must be set in concrete at least 6 inches below the racetrack surface and shall be at least 24 inches deep. Permanent rails shall be designed not to collapse or break away when a horse that is running parallel to the rail bumps, lugs or falls into the rail or posts during normal training or racing. Notwithstanding the above, no permanent or portable turf post or rail shall be constructed of fiberglass, poly vinyl chloride (P.V.C.), or wood, and hedges shall not be used as a post or rail.(c) The height of all outside and inside rails shall be between 38 and 42 inches from the top of the racing surface to the top of the rail.(d) All rails, and rail post covers shall be maintained with a smooth surface, and without jagged, sharp or irregular edges. All permanent rails and rail post covers shall be firmly secured by means of bolting, welding or other equivalent method.(e) All permanent inside rail posts shall be of a gooseneck-type design utilizing at least a 24-inch overhang with a continuous smooth elevated cover extending over the posts. Portable rails and posts shall be designed not to collapse or break away when a horse that is running parallel to the rail bumps, lugs or falls into the rail or posts during normal training or racing conditions. This subsection shall not apply to chute extension rails.(f) All turf course paths, leading from the inside rail of the main course to the turf course, shall be consistent in appearance with surrounding area. No rails shall be installed on turf course paths that lead from the main course to the turf course.(g) No objects shall be placed within 10 feet from the face of the inside rail. Marker poles that are placed within 10 feet from the face of the inner rail shall be flexible enough to collapse upon impact of a horse and/or rider or driver.(h) Any concrete drainage ditch within 10 feet of the face of the inside rail must be covered with a material that will support the weight of the horse and rider or driver and at the same time (if needed), and have padding to cushion the impact of the horse and rider or driver.(i) All rail gate openings shall be designed not to collapse or break away when a horse that is running parallel to the rail bumps, lugs or falls into the rail or post during normal training or racing. Gates shall have a uniform appearance with the contiguous rail, and all gates on inner rails shall be closed and secured during racing and training.(j) Separate ingress and egress gates or gaps shall be provided for horses to enter and leave the main racetrack. Each ingress and egress gate or gap shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide. Ingress and egress gates and gaps shall be separated by at least 20 feet. All gaps may be available for ingress for two minutes immediately following renovation breaks. The starting gates used for breaking horses during morning training hours shall be placed in a location that will not result in interference or distraction of gate horses from other horses entering or leaving the track during training hours.(k) All racetrack lighting systems utilized for night racing shall have an emergency back-up system or a preferred electrical current provided by a public utility and incandescent lighting. Any such lighting systems must provide horses, riders, and drivers sufficient lighting to safely leave the track in case of a main power failure.(l) All licensed racing associations or racing fairs conducting live racing and/or training and other training facilities used for timed and reported workouts shall have: (1) Permanent track surface elevation grade marks installed at least at every 1/32 mile intervals to provide for a means of maintaining a continuous uniform grade of the track cushion and base (if granite). If the track is designed with the front stretch or backstretch at a different elevation than the other, a continuous grade from one elevation to the other shall be maintained.(2) A minimum of 2 percent cross slope in the straight-aways and a minimum of 4 percent cross slope in the center of the turns.(3) Synthetic and polymer or wax-coated sand track surfaces shall be exempt from the requirements of Subparagraph (l)(1)(2) of this rule.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 4, § 1472
1. New section filed 5-24-94; operative 5-24-94 except as shown in text (Register 94, No. 21).
2. New subsections (a)(1)-(2) filed 1-11-95; operative 2-10-95 (Register 95, No. 2).
3. Amendment of subsections (b), (d)-(f), (h)-(i) and new subsections (l)-(l)(2) filed 5-2-95; operative 6-1-95, except subsections 1472(h)-(i) which are operative 7-1-95 (Register 95, No. 18).
4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k) filed 12-23-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 52).
5. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 6-20-2006; operative 7-20-2006 (Register 2006, No. 25). Note: Authority cited: Sections 19420, 19440 and 19481, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 19481, Business and Professions Code.
1. New section filed 5-24-94; operative 5-24-94 except as shown in text (Register 94, No. 21).
2. New subsections (a)(1)-(2) filed 1-11-95; operative 2-10-95 (Register 95, No. 2).
3. Amendment of subsections (b), (d)-(f), (h)-(i) and new subsections (l)-(l)(2) filed 5-2-95; operative 6-1-95, except subsections 1472(h)-(i) which are operative 7-1-95 (Register 95, No. 18).
4. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k) filed 12-23-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 52).
5. Amendment of section and Note filed 6-20-2006; operative 7-20-2006 (Register 2006, No. 25).