W. Va. Code R. § 178-1-15

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 178-1-15 - Starter

15.1. General Authority. The starter shall:

15.1.a. have complete jurisdiction over the starting gate, the starting of thoroughbreds and the authority to give orders not in conflict with the rules of racing as may be required to ensure all participants an equal opportunity to a fair start;

15.1.b. appoint and supervise assistant starters who have demonstrated they are adequately trained to safely handle thoroughbreds in the starting gate. In emergency situations, the starter may appoint qualified individuals to act as substitute assistant starters;

15.1.c. ensure that at least one assistant starter is available for each thoroughbred in a race, unless permission is otherwise granted by the stewards;

15.1.d. assign the starting gate stall positions to assistant starters and notify the assistant starters of their respective stall positions before post time for the race;

15.1.e. assess the ability of each person applying for a jockey's permit in breaking from the starting gate and working a thoroughbred in the company of other thoroughbreds, and make such assessment known to the stewards;

15.1.f. load thoroughbreds into their positions in the starting gate in alternating sequence, with the thoroughbred assigned to the post closest to the inside rail and the thoroughbred assigned to the post position nearest to the middle of the field being loaded first, and so on, until the field is properly loaded. When there are less than seven (7) thoroughbreds running a race, they may be loaded in the starting gate in the order of their positions beginning from the inside rail. Vicious and unruly horses may be loaded out of sequence in the discretion of the starter; and

15.1.g. assess any thoroughbred that has not run a race within the preceding six (6) months and determine whether or not it can break out of the gate satisfactorily.

15.2. Reloading of thoroughbreds. If a thoroughbred or thoroughbreds break through the gate or unseat his or her rider after part or all of the field is loaded in the gate for the start, and that thoroughbred is not immediately taken in hand by the outrider and brought back for reloading, the starter may unload the remaining thoroughbreds in the gate and reload in their proper order when the runaway thoroughbred is brought back in position for loading.

15.3. Starter's List. No thoroughbred shall be permitted to start in a race unless approval is given by the starter. The starter shall maintain a starter's list of all thoroughbreds which are ineligible to be entered in any race because of poor or inconsistent behavior or performance in the starting gate. A thoroughbred on the starter's list shall be refused entry until it has demonstrated to the starter that it has been satisfactorily schooled in the gate and can be removed from the starter's list. Schooling shall be under the direct supervision of the starter or an assistant. The starter shall provide copies of the starter's list to the stewards and the association's racing secretary, including information pertaining to the thoroughbreds that are schooled sufficiently to be permitted to run.

15.4. Assistant Starters. With respect to an official race, the assistant starters shall not:

15.4.a. handle or take charge of any thoroughbred in the starting gate without the expressed permission of the starter;

15.4.b. impede the start of a race;

15.4.c. apply a whip or other device, with the exception of steward-approved twitches, to assist in loading a thoroughbred into the starting gate;

15.4.d. slap, boot, or otherwise dispatch a thoroughbred from the starting gate;

15.4.e. strike or use abusive language to a jockey; or

15.4.f. accept or solicit any gratuity or payment other than his/her regular salary, directly or indirectly, for services in starting a race.

15.5. Report Violations. The starter and assistant starters shall report all unauthorized activities to the stewards.

W. Va. Code R. § 178-1-15