Section R. 431.3290 - Paddock to postRule 3290.
(1) A horse shall not start unless the trainer and the owner are licensed by the executive director. A trainer who is absent from his or her stable or from the grounds where his or her horses are racing for more than 2 consecutive racing days, and whose horses are entered or are to be entered, shall provide a trainer to assume complete responsibility for the horses being entered or running. Such trainer shall sign, in the presence of the stewards, a form furnished by the executive director accepting complete responsibility for the horses entered or running.(2) Every horse entering the paddock to race shall be inspected as to its shoeing, if any. An unshod horse may race with permission of the stewards and must be noted on the program or announced to the public.(3) All horses shall parade and carry their weight from the paddock to the starting post. A horse that fails to do so may be disqualified by the stewards.(4) After entering the race course, not more than 12 minutes shall elapse in the parade of horses to the post, except in cases of unavoidable delay. After passing the stand once, horses are allowed to break formation and canter, warm up, or go as they please to the post. When horses have reached the post, they shall be started without unnecessary delay.(5) Each association shall employ not less than 2 outriders to escort starters to the post and to assist in the returning of all horses to the unsaddling area. An outrider shall not lead any horse unless it has demonstrated unruly behavior, but shall assist in the control of any horse which might cause injury to a jockey or others. Outriders are required to be present on the race course, mounted, and ready to assist in the control of any unruly horse or to recapture any loose horse at all times horses are permitted on the race course for exercising or racing.(6) The horses are under the control of the official starter after they leave the paddock until the start and are not entitled to further care from their attendants, except that, in case of an accident, the official starter may permit jockeys to dismount and may permit horses to be cared for during the delay. Other than this exception, a jockey shall not dismount. Unruly horses shall be placed on the schooling list.(7) The official starter is required to load horses in the starting gate in order of post position. Any exception to this must be approved by the stewards.(8) An owner or trainer who desires that his or her horse not be tailed or tonged at the starting gate shall make, at time of entry, a written request to the official starter and the horse shall not be tailed or tonged.(9) Horses shall be schooled under the supervision of the official starter or his or her assistant. The official starter shall report horses that are sufficiently schooled to start to the racing secretary. Unruly horses shall be placed on the schooling list and shall not start until approved by the official starter. The schooling list shall be respected in all cases.(10) Before becoming a starter, a horse may be excused by the stewards because of physical disability, incorrigibility, or because of having been improperly entered in the race.(11) If a horse is excused by the stewards before becoming a starter, or if the doors at the front of the stall gate do not open when the official starter dispatches the field, which causes a horse to be left, or if any horse is disqualified for bringing in underweight, the money bet on any horse or horses thus eliminated shall be deducted from the pool and refunded to the purchasers of tickets on such horse or horses. However, if 1 horse of an entry or 1 of the horses grouped in the field leaves the stall gate and brings in proper weight, there shall not be a refund on the entry or on the field.(12) When a loose horse leaves the race course the horse shall be scratched.Mich. Admin. Code R. 431.3290
1985 AACS; 2021 MR 6, Eff. 3/26/2021