Section 1597.5 - Microchips Required for All Horses on Grounds(a) All race horses (horse/horses) present within the inclosure of a licensed racing association, racing fair, or authorized training facility shall carry a microchip unless it is exempt under the provisions of this Rule. For purposes of this Division, a "microchip" is any International Organization for Standardization compliant (ISO 11784/11785) fifteen digit, 134.2-kHz, FDX-B passive transponder microchip. Microchips shall be ICAR (International Committee of Animal Recording) approved (9xx series) with an unshared manufacturer code.(1) If a horse without a microchip comes into the inclosure of a licensed racing associations, racing fair, or authorized training facility, the trainer or owner of the horse shall: (A) Immediately notify the horse identifier that the horse does not carry a microchip;(B) Complete CHRB Form 236, Microchip Request (New 04/16), which is hereby incorporated by reference, and submit it to the horse identifier.(2) If a horse has not received a microchip after 7 days from the time it arrives at the inclosure, it shall be removed from the grounds of the racing association, racing fair, or authorized training facility unless a request for an extension is made in writing to the Board of Stewards by the horse's owner or trainer and the request is granted.(3) A trainer or owner may apply to the Board of Stewards for a waiver from the microchip requirements in this Rule for the purpose of the horse's participation in a single race. The request for a waiver shall be made on CHRB Form 237, Microchip Waiver Request (Rev 04/19), which is hereby incorporated by reference, and shall be submitted to the stewards when the horse is entered to race. All waivers will expire 7 days after the running of the race for which the waiver is granted. No horse shall be granted more than one waiver per race meeting.(4) A horse that has not been implanted with a microchip, or has not been granted a waiver in accordance with subsection (a)(3), shall not be eligible to start in a race.(5) Anytime a horse is implanted with an identifying microchip while in the inclosure of a licensed racing association, racing fair, or training facility, the following procedures shall be followed: (A) The horse identifier will assign the microchip number for each horse to be implanted.(B) The microchip shall be implanted by a Board-licensed veterinarian, registered veterinary technician, or other licensee who has been authorized by the official veterinarian and while under the supervision of the horse identifier.(C) The licensed owner of the horse shall be responsible for any veterinary service fees for implantation of the microchip.(D) The horse identifier shall verify the individual microchip identification number assigned to the horse. The horse identifier will record the individual horse microchip identification number with the racing secretary in a searchable electronic format that is subject to Board approval. Records of the microchip identification numbers shall be maintained by the racing secretary and in accordance with Rule 1597.(7) A horse that comes into the inclosure of a licensed racing association, racing fair, or authorized training facility, and carries a microchip but has not had its individual microchip identification number recorded by the racing secretary, shall have its microchip verified and recorded in accordance with subsection (a)(5)(D). No person shall prevent the Board of Stewards, the horse identifier, or the racing secretary from assigning, verifying, or recording a horse's microchip number.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 4, § 1597.5
1. New section filed 1-9-2018; operative 12-26-2018 (Register 2018, No. 2).
2. Amendment of section heading and section filed 8-8-2019; operative 10-1-2019 (Register 2019, No. 32). Note: Authority cited: Sections 19420, 19440 and 19562, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 19440 and 19562, Business and Professions Code.
1. New section filed 1-9-2018; operative 12/26/2018 (Register 2018, No. 2).
2. Amendment of section heading and section filed 8-8-2019; operative 10/1/2019 (Register 2019, No. 32).