Section R52-7-4 - Racing Organization1. Allocation of Racing Dates. The Commission shall allocate racing dates for the conduct of horse race meetings within this State for such time periods and at such racing locations as the Commission determines will best serve the interests of the people of Utah in accordance with Title 4, Chapter 38, the Utah Horse Regulation Act. Upon a finding by the Commission that the allocation of racing dates for any year is completed, the racing dates allocated shall be subject to reconsideration or amendment only for conditions unforeseen at the time of allocation. 2. Application for License and Days to Conduct a Horse Race Meeting. Each person who intends to conduct a horse race meeting shall file an application with the Commission no later than August 1 of the preceding calendar year. Any prospective applicant for license and days to conduct a horse race meeting failing to timely file the application for license may be disqualified and its application for license refused summarily by the Commission.3. Commission may Demand Information. The Commission may require any racing organization or prospective racing organization to furnish the Commission with a detailed proposal and disclosures as to its proposed racing program, purse, program, financial projections, racing officials, principals or shareholders, plants, premises, facility, finances, lease arrangements, agreements, contracts, and such other information as the Commission may require to determine the eligibility and qualification of the organization to conduct a race meeting, in addition to that required in the application form set forth in Subsection R52-7-4(4) and as required by Section 4-38-4.4. Application for Organization License. Any person desiring to conduct a horse race meeting where the public is charged an admission fee shall apply to the Commission for an organization license. The application shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission. The application shall contain the following information: A. the dates on which and location where the applicant intends to conduct the race meeting;B. the name and mailing address of the person making the application;C. if the applicant is a corporation, a certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the names and mailing addresses of any stockholders who own at least 3% of the total stock issued by the corporation, officers, and directors, and the number of shares of stock owned by each;D. if the applicant is a partnership, a copy of the partnership agreement, and the names and mailing addresses of general and limited partners with a statement of their respective interest in the partnership;E. a description of photographic equipment, video equipment, and copies of any proposed lease or purchase contract or service agreement;F. copies of any agreements with concessionaires or lessees, together with schedules of rates charged for performance of any service or for sale of any article within the enclosure, whether directly or through the concessionaire;G. schedule of admission prices to be charged;H. balance sheets and profit and loss statements for each of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the application, or for the period of organization if less than three years. If the applicant has not completed a full fiscal year since its organization, or if it acquires or is to acquire the majority of its assets from a predecessor within the current fiscal year, the financial information shall be given for the current fiscal year. Financial information shall be accompanied by an unqualified opinion of a Certified Public Accountant, or if the opinion is given with qualifications, the reasons for the qualifications shall be stated;I. a schedule of stall rent, entry fees, or any other charges to be made to the horsemen or public not mentioned in this section; andJ. any other information the Commission may require. For applicants requesting to conduct non pari-mutuel racing, the licensee fee shall not be less than $25.5. A separate application upon a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission shall be filed for each race meeting which such person proposes to conduct. The application, if made by a person, shall be signed and verified under oath by the person; and if made by more than one person or by a partnership, shall be signed and verified under oath by at least two of the persons or members of the partnership; and if made by an association, a corporation, or any other entity, shall be signed by the President, attested to by the Secretary under the seal of such association or corporation, if it has a seal, and verified under oath by one of the signing officers. 6. No person shall own any silent or undisclosed interest in any entity requesting an organization license. No organization license shall be issued to any applicant that fails to comply with this rule. No incomplete license application shall be considered by the Commission.7. In considering the granting or denying of an organization's application for a license to conduct horse racing with the non pari-mutuel system of wagering, the following criteria, standards, and guides should be considered by the Commission: A. public interest; d. municipal comments; ande. state and local revenues;B. track location; b. support services such as hotels or restaurants;d. public services such as police or fire; ande. proximity to competition;C. number of tracks running or making application;D. adequacy of track facilities;E. experience in racing of applicant and management;F. financial qualifications of applicant, applicant's partners, officers, associates, and shareholders, including contract services;G. qualifications of applicant, applicant's partners, officers, associates, and shareholders including contract services;c. litigation record, civil or criminal; andd. law enforcement intelligence;H. official attitude of local government involved; I. anticipated effect upon breeding and horse industry in Utah;J. effect on saturation of non pari-mutuel market; K. anticipated effect upon state's economy; b. government revenue; (1) direct or indirect tax; and(2) direct or indirect income;L. attitude of local community involved;M. the written attitude of horse industry associations; N. experience and credibility of consultants, advisors, and professionals;b. credibility and integrity of feasibility study;O. financial and economic integrity of financial plan; c. equity to debt ratio; (1) integrity of financing plan; i. identity of participants; ii. role of participants;iii. history of participants; andiv. law enforcement intelligence; andP. apparent or non-apparent hope of financial success.8. List of Shareholders. Each organization shall, if a corporation or partnership, maintain a current list of shareholders and the number of shares held by each. The list shall be available for inspection upon demand by the Commission or its representatives. The organization shall immediately inform the Commission of any change of corporate officers or directors, general or managing partners, or of any change in shareholders. If the organization is a publicly-held entity, it shall disclose the names and addresses of shareholders who own 3% of the outstanding shares of the organization. The organization shall immediately notify the Commission of any stock options, tender offers, and any anticipated stock offerings. The Commission may refuse to issue a license to, or suspend the license of, any organization that fails to disclose the real name of any shareholders.9. Denial of License. The Commission may deny a license to conduct a horse racing meeting when in its judgment it determines the proposed meeting is not in the public interest, or fails to serve the purposes of Title 4, Chapter 38, the Utah Horse Regulation Act, or fails to meet any requirements of state law or the Commission's rules. The Commission shall refuse to issue a license to any applicant who fails to provide the Commission with evidence of its ability to meet its estimated financial obligations for the conduct of the meeting.10. Duty of Licensed Organization. Each organization shall observe and enforce the rules of the Commission. The license is granted on the condition that the organization, its officials, its employees, and its concessionaires shall obey the decisions and orders of the Commission. The organization shall not allow any wagering within the enclosure of the racing facility that might be construed as being in violation of the laws of Utah.11. Conditions of A Race Meeting. The organization may impose conditions for its race meeting as it may consider necessary; except that conditions may not conflict with any requirements of Utah State Law or the rules, regulations and orders of the Commission. Such conditions shall be published in the Condition Book or otherwise made available to licensees participating in its race meeting. A copy of the conditions and nomination race book shall be published no later than 45 days before the commencement of the race meeting. A proof of such conditions and nomination race book shall be filed with the Commission no later than 45 days before printing. The conditions and nomination race book is subject to the approval of the Commission. The organization may impose requirements, qualifications, requisites, and track rules for its race meeting as it may consider necessary; provided requirements, qualifications, and track rules do not conflict with Utah State Law or the rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission. Such information shall be published in the Condition Book, posted on the organization's bulletin boards, or otherwise made available to licensees participating at its race meeting. Any requirements, qualifications, requisites or track rules imposed by the organization require earlier review and approval by the Commission, that reserves the right of final decision in matters pertaining to the conditions of a race meeting.
12. Right of Commission to Information. The organization may be asked to furnish the Commission, on forms approved by the Commission, a daily itemized report of the receipts of attendance, parking, concessions, commissions, and any other requested information. The organization shall also provide a corrected official program, completed race results charts approved by the Commission, and any other information the Commission may require. Such daily reports shall be filed with the Commission within 72 hours of the race d ay.13. Duty to Compile Official Program. The organization shall compile an official program for each racing day that shall contain the names of the horses that are to run in each race together with their respective post positions, post time for first race, age, color, sex, breeding, jockey, trainer, owners or stable name, racing colors, weight carried, conditions of the race, the order in which each race shall be run, the distance to be run, the value of each race, a list of Racing Officials and track management personnel, and any other information the Commission may require. The Commission may direct the organization to publish in the program any other information and notices to the public as it deems necessary.14. Duty to Maintain Racing Records. The organization shall maintain a complete record of races of each authorized race meeting of the same type of racing being conducted by the organization, and such records shall be maintained and retained for a period of five years. This requirement may be met by race records of Triangle Publications, the American Quarter Horse Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club, the American Paint Horse Association, other breed registry associations' racing records department, or other racing publications approved by the Commission.15. Horsemen's Bookkeeper. The organization shall employ a Horsemen's Bookkeeper who shall maintain records as the organization and Commission shall direct. The records shall include the name, address, social security or federal identification number, and the state or country of residence of each horse owner, trainer, or jockey participating at the race meeting who has funds due or on deposit in the horseman's account. The Horsemen's Bookkeeper shall keep the riding accounts of the jockeys and shall disburse the received fees to the proper claimants. It shall be the duty of the Horsemen's Bookkeeper to receive and disburse the purses of each race and any stakes, entrance money, jockey fees, and other monies that properly come into their possession, and make disbursements within 48 hours of receipt of notification from the testing laboratory that drug tests have cleared unless an appeal or protest has been filed with the Stewards or the Commission. The Horsemen's Bookkeeper may accept monies due belonging to other organizations or recognized meetings, provided prompt return is made to the organization to which the money is due. Upon written request, the Horsemen's Bookkeeper shall, within 30 days after the meeting, disburse any monies to the persons entitled to receive them. The Horsemen's Bookkeeper shall maintain a file of required statements of partnerships, syndicates, corporations, assignments of interest, lease agreements, and registrations of authorized agents. Records and monies of the Horsemen's Bookkeeper shall be kept separate and apart from any other of the organization and are subject to inspection by the Commission at any time. 16. Accounting Practices and Responsibility. The organization and its managing officers shall ensure that purse monies, disbursements, and appropriate nomination race monies are available to make timely distribution in accordance with the state law, the rules of the Commission, the organization rules, and race conditions. Copies of nomination payment race contracts, agreements, and conditions shall be submitted to the Commission and related reporting requirements fulfilled as specified by the Commission. Subject to approval of the Commission, the organization shall maintain on a current basis a bookkeeping and accounting program under the guidance of a Certified Public Accountant. The Commission may require periodic audits to determine that the organization has funds available to meet those distributions for the purposes required by state law, the rules of the Commission, the conditions and nomination race program of the race meeting, and the obligations incurred in the daily operation of the race meeting. Annually, the organization shall file a copy of tax returns, a balance sheet, and a profit and loss statement.17. Electronic Photo Finish Device. Each organization shall install and maintain in good service an electronic photo finish device for photographing the finishes of races and recording the time of each horse in hundredths of a second, when applicable, to assist the placing judges and the Stewards in determining the finishing positions and time of the horses. Before first use, the electronic photo finish device must be approved by the Commission, and a calibration report shall be filed with the Commission by January 1 of each year. A photograph of each finish shall be promptly posted for public view in at least one conspicuous place in the public enclosure.18. Videotape Recording of Races. Each organization shall install and operate a system to provide a videotape recording of each race so that such recording clearly shows the position and action of the horses and jockeys at close enough range to be easily discernible. A video monitor shall be located in the Stewards' Tower to assist in reviewing the running of the races. Before first use, the videotape recording system and location and placement of its equipment shall be approved by the Commission. Each race other than a race run solely on a straight course may be recorded by use of at least two cameras to provide panoramic and head-on views of the race. Races run solely on the straight course shall be recorded by the use of at least one camera to provide a head-on view. Except with earlier approval of the Commission, organizations shall maintain an auxiliary videotape recording camera and player in case of breakdown or malfunction of a primary videotape recording camera or player.19. Identification of Photo Finish Photographs and Videotape Recordings. Photo finish photographs and videotape recordings required by these rules shall be identified by indicating thereon, the date, number of the race, and the name of the racetrack at which the race is held.20. Altering Official Photographs or Recordings. No person shall cut, mutilate, alter, or change any photo finish photograph or videotape recording for deceit or fraud of any type.21. Preservation of Official Photographs and Recordings. Organizations shall keep any photographic negatives and videotape recordings of races for at least 180 days after the close of their meeting. Upon request of the Commission, the organization shall furnish the Commission with a clear, positive print of any photograph of any race, or a kinescope print or copy of the videotape recording of any race.22. Viewing Room Required. The organization shall maintain a viewing room for screening the videotape recording of the races for viewing by Racing Officials, jockeys, trainers, owners, and other interested persons authorized by the Stewards.23. Office Space for The Commission. The organization shall provide within the enclosure adequate office space for use by the Commission and its authorized representatives, and shall provide such necessary office furniture and utilities as may be required for the conduct of the Commission's business and the collection of the public revenues at the organization's meetings.24. Duty to Receive Complaints. The organization shall maintain a place where written complaints or claims of violations or objections of racetrack rules, regulations, and conditions; Commission rules; or Utah State Laws may be filed. A copy of any written complaint or claim filed with the organization shall be filed by the organization with the Commission or Commission representatives within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint or claim.25. Bulletin Boards Required. The organization shall erect and maintain a glass enclosed bulletin board close to the Racing Secretary's Office in a place where access is granted to licensees, upon which official notices of the Commission shall be posted. The organization shall also erect and maintain a glass enclosed bulletin board in the grandstand area where access is granted to race day patrons, upon which official notices of the Commission shall be posted.26. Communication Systems Required. The organization shall install and maintain in good service a telephonic communication system between the Stewards' stand, racing office, jockey room, paddock, testing barn, starting gate, video camera locations, and other designated places. The organization shall also install and maintain in good service a public address communication system for announcing the racing program, the running of the races, and any public service notices, as well as maintaining communications with the barn area for paddock calls and the paging of horsemen.27. Ambulance Service. Subject to the approval of the Commission, the organization shall provide the services of an approved medical ambulance and its properly qualified attendants during the running of the race program at its meeting and, except with earlier permission of the Commission, during the hours the organization permits the use of its race course for training purposes. The organization shall also provide the service of a horse ambulance during the same hours. A means of communication shall be provided by the organization between a staffed observation point such as the Stewards' Tower and Clocker's Stand for the race course and the place where the required ambulances and their attendants are posted for prompt response in the event of accident to any person or horse. In the event an emergency necessitates the departure of a required ambulance, the race course shall be closed until an approved ambulance is again available within the enclosure.28. Safety of Race Course and Premises. The organization shall take cognizance of any complaint regarding the safety or uniformity of its race course or premises, and shall maintain in safe condition the race course and rails and other equipment required for the conduct of its races.29. Starting Point Markers and Distance Poles. Permanent markers shall be located at each starting point to be utilized in the organization's racing program. The starting point markers and distance poles shall be of a size and in a position where they can be seen clearly from the Stewards' stand. The starting point markers and distance poles shall be marked with the appropriate distance and be the following colors: TABLE
1/16 | poles . . . black and white horizontal stripes |
1/8 | poles . . . green and white horizontal stripes |
1/4 | poles . . . red and white horizontal stripes |
220 | yards . . . green and white horizontal stripes |
250 | yards . . . blue |
300 | yards . . . yellow |
330 | yards . . . black and white horizontal stripes |
350 | yards . . . red |
400 | yards . . . black |
440 | yards . . . red and white horizontal stripes |
550 | yards . . . black and white horizontal stripes |
660 | yards . . . green and white horizontal stripes |
770 | yards . . . black and white horizontal stripes |
870 | yards . . . blue and white horizontal stripes |
30. Grade and Distance Survey. A survey by a licensed surveyor of the race course, including starting chutes, indicating the grade and measurement of distances to be run shall be filed with the Commission before the first race meeting.31. Physical Requirements for Non pari-Mutuel Racing Facility. In order for an organization to be granted a license to conduct non pari-mutuel racing, the facility shall meet the following physical requirements:A. A regulation track shall be a straightaway course of 440 yards in length. The straightaway shall connect with an oval not less than one-half mile in circumference; except that the width may vary according to the number of horses started in a field, but a minimum of 20 feet shall be allowed for the first two horses with an additional five feet for each added starter.B. The inner and outer rails shall extend the entire length of the straightaway and around the connecting oval; it shall be at least 30 inches and not more than 42 inches in height. A racetrack not approved by the Commission before January 1, 1993, shall otherwise have inner and outer rails of at least 38 inches and not more than 42 inches in height. It shall be constructed of metal not less than two inches in diameter, wood not less than two inches in thickness and six inches in width, or other construction material approved by the Commission. Whatever construction material is used must provide for the safety of both horse and rider. It shall be painted white and maintained at all times.C. Stabling facilities should be adequate for the number of horses to be on hand for the meet. In no case will a track with less than 200 stalls be acceptable, without Utah Horse Commission approval.D. Stands for Stewards and Timers shall be located exactly on the finish line and provide a commanding and uninterrupted view of the entire racing strip.E. The paddock shall be spacious enough to provide adequate safety. The jockey's room shall be in or adjacent to the paddock enclosure and shall be equipped with separate but equal complete sanitation facilities including showers for both male and female riders. This area shall be fenced to keep out unauthorized persons and provide maximum security and safety. The fence shall be at least four feet high of chain link, v-mesh or similar construction.F. A Test Barn with a minimum of two stalls shall be provided for purpose of collecting urine specimens. The Test Barn and a walking ring large enough to accommodate several horses cooling out at the same time shall be completely enclosed by a fence at least eight feet high of chain link, v-mesh or similar construction. There shall be only one entrance into the Test Barn enclosure that shall remain locked or guarded. Provisions shall be made in this area for an office to accommodate the needs of the Official Veterinarian and from which they can observe the stalls and the entrance into the Test Barn enclosure. The organization shall provide facilities for the immediate cooling and freezing of urine specimens, and shall make provisions for the specimens to be shipped to the laboratory packed in dry ice. G. A grandstand or bleachers shall be provided for the spectators and shall provide for the comfort and safety of the spectators. Facilities shall include rest rooms and a public water supply.32. Organization as the Insurer of the Race Meeting. Approval of a race meeting by the Commission does not establish the Commission as the insurer or guarantor of the safety or physical condition of the organization's facilities or purse of any race. The organization does thereby agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless the Utah Horse Commission from any liability arising from unsafe conditions of track facilities or grandstand and default in payment of purses. The organization shall provide the Commission with a certificate of adequate liability insurance.Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2021-09, effective 4/12/2021Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-05, effective 2/23/2022