Section 017-3-8 - Starter/Patrol JudgeThe Starter/Patrol Judge
1. shall be in the starting stand or starting gate fifteen minutes before the first race of the program;2. shall report to the Judges, the following in writing,b. any action on the track which could improperly affect the result of a race;c. the unfitness or lameness of a horse; andd. any lack of proper racing equipment3. shall notify in writing the Judges and the drivers of the penalties imposed by him;4. shall make recommendations, in writing, to the Presiding Judge for the placing on the Steward's List of all horses which do not perform properly at the start;5. shall conduct such school sessions as are necessary to train horses to the method of starting adopted at the racetrack;6. may request a Presiding Judge to substitute a driver, who fails or refuses to obey his or her instructions, for the heat or race;7. shall have control of the horses from the formation of the parade until releasing the horses by giving the word "go" at the official starting point;8. shall bring the horses to the starting gate within one minute after the official post time for that race unless a longer time is prescribed by the Presiding Judge;9. shall position the starting gate, with its arm extended, on a 1/2 mile track as near 1/4 mile before the starting point as the track will permit. On a mile track it will be stationed at the head of the stretch;10. will cause the gate to move towards the starting point, gradually increasing the speed of the gate but maintaining a speed which will average:A. for the first 1/8 mile, not less than 11 miles per hour,B. for the next 1/16 mile, not less than 18 miles per hour;C. from that point to the starting point a gradual increase to the appropriate maximum speed;11. shall post on the inside of the track the official starting point which shall be not less than 200 feet from the beginning of the first turn;12. may sound a recall in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7, Section 37. 13. shall endeavor to get all horses away in position and on gait.14. shall not sound a recall after the word "go" has been given.