Illinois Administrative Code

Section 1314.120 Bad Checks If track pays any purse by check, which upon presentation is dishonored, the matter shall immediately be referred to the Board for disposition.

Section 1314.130 Advertised Purse When any track advertises minimum purses and conducts any race for less than said advertised minimum, unless previously sanctioned by the Illinois Racing Board, such track shall be fined the difference between the advertised minimum and the lesse…

Section 1314.140 Advertising and Awards Except as herein stated, no track shall advertise to pay or pay any awards other than to owners, nominators, or breeders of money winning horses. Awards may be made to drivers of horses breaking or equalling track or world records, or to le…

Section 1314.150 Allocation of Stalls a) No race track operator shall allocate stalls except pursuant to a written stall application and agreement, the form of which shall have been approved by the Board. The racing secretary shall be responsible for stall allocation unless some …

Section 1314.160 Paddock and Receiving Barn a) Every extended pari-mutuel track shall provide a paddock and a receiving barn. b) The paddock and receiving barn must be completely enclosed with a man-tight fence and all openings through said fence shall be policed so as to exclude…

Section 1314.170 Photofinish and Starting Gate a) At all tracks a photo finish and starting gate must be used. Whenever the judges use a photo to determine the order of finish, it shall be posted for public inspection during that same racing program. Photo finish equipment shall …

Section 1314.180 Driver Insurance Each track shall prepare and prominently display in the racing secretary's office, a statement giving the name of the company with which it carries driver insurance.

Section 1314.190 Interference with Officials Although track operators have the obligation of general supervision of their meetings, interference with the proper performance of duties of any official is hereby prohibited.

Section 1314.20 Extra Races No additional races on a racing date will be permitted without the written approval of the Executive Director, and subject to conditions by the Board. (Source: Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 10467, effective June 1, 2006)

Section 1314.200 Film Recordings a) All race track operators shall take and make at their own expense a complete recording of all races run. The number and location of recording stations, the type of equipment used, and the quality of the image must be satisfactory to the state s…

Section 1314.210 Penalty for Violation of Rules Any race track operator who violates any provision of the Rules and Regulations of Harness Racing or of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 may be fined no more than $5000 for each such violation and/or may have said operator's li…

Section 1314.220 Stall Availability a) That applicant for racing dates which is allotted the first meeting for the harness racing season in any year within Cook County, as a condition to its receiving its license to conduct a racing meeting, shall make available to horsemen and t…

Section 1314.230 Limitation on Purse Reductions a) No purse for any race may be reduced after said purse has been advertised, published, or reflected in the conditions unless notice of said reduction is promptly given to the state steward, promptly posted on the public bulletin b…

Section 1314.30 Postponement of Races No racing shall be conducted by any race track operator over any track which is dangerous to drivers or horses competing thereon. If at any time inclement weather or other conditions appear to make the track unsafe, representatives of managem…

Section 1314.40 Postponement Procedure a) Early closing races, stakes and futurities shall be postponed to a definite hour the next fair day and good track. b) Any late closing race, early closing race, stake or futurity (except as provided in subparagraph c below) that cannot be…

Section 1314.50 Post Time Post time for the first race of the program may be fixed by the race track operator. If post time must be delayed, the operator must receive approval of the delay from the Stewards. (Source: Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 10467, effective June 1, 2006)

Section 1314.60 Head Numbers Each competing horse shall be equipped with numbers of style, type and design approved by the state steward. Numbers shall be arranged so that coupled horses may be distinguished as such, and that horses coupled in the field may be distinguished as su…

Section 1314.70 License Display During the course of its race meetings, each licensed race track operator shall display the license issued by the Board for the current year.

Section 1314.80 Bonafide Contests All races shall be bonafide contests with the winner receiving the largest share of the purse and the balance of the purse distribution made according to the order of finish. No hippodroming or other arrangement for equal distribution of the purs…

Section 1314.90 Payment Default Any track that defaults in the payment of a premium that has been raced for, shall, after a hearing before the Board, stand suspended, together with its officers. No deduction, voluntary or involuntary, may be made from any purse or stake or futuri…

Section 1316.10 Starting Gate a) Horses shall be started from a starting gate. The starter shall have control of the horses from the formation of the parade until he gives the word "go." b) After one or two preliminary warming up scores, the starter shall notify the drivers to co…

Section 1316.20 Use of Loudspeaker Use of a mechanical loudspeaker for any purpose other than to give instructions to drivers is prohibited. The volume shall be no higher than necessary to carry the voice of the starter to the drivers.

Section 1316.30 Two Tiers In the event there are two tiers of horses, the withdrawing of a horse that has drawn or earned a position in the front tier shall not affect the position of the horses that have drawn or earned positions in the second tier. Whenever a horse is drawn fro…

Section 1316.40 Horses Must Go the Course The horses shall be deemed to have started when the word "go" is given by the starter and all horses must go the course except in case of an accident in which it is the opinion of the judges that it is impossible to go the course. Drivers…

Section 1316.50 Unmanageable Horses If in the opinion of the judges or the starter a horse is unmanageable or liable to cause accidents or injury to any other horse or to any driver, it may be sent to the barn, but the entry and declaration fees on the horse shall then be refunde…

Section 1316.60 Starting Gate Shields The arms of all starting gates shall be provided with a screen or a shield in front of the position for each horse, and such arms shall be perpendicular to the rail.

Section 1316.70 Riding With the Starter No persons shall be allowed to ride in the starting gate except the starter and his driver or assistant, and a patrol judge, unless permission has been granted by the state steward.

Section 1317.10 Proper License No driver is eligible to participate in races without a driver's license issued by the United States Trotting Association. Drivers lacking said license must petition the Board for an Illinois driver's license.

Section 1317.100 Color Registration Drivers holding a full license or registered stables shall register their racing colors with the United States Trotting Association.

Section 1317.110 Repeated Violations Repeated rule violations shall be considered grounds for refusal to grant or grounds for revocation of any driver's license.

Section 1317.120 Accidents In the event any person is involved in an accident on the track, the Board may order that person to submit to a physical examination. (Source: Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 10120, effective September 1, 2019)

Section 1317.130 Physical Examination a) An applicant for a driver's license may be required to take a physical examination before his application will be considered. b) The Illinois Racing Board reserves the right to require any driver to take a physical examination at any time.

Section 1317.140 Objections The stewards must decide every objection pertaining to a race. (Source: Amended December 22, 1977; filed December 30, 1977)

Section 1317.150 Drivers Meeting Before the first race at any pari-mutuel meet is contested, officials and drivers shall meet and discuss the Rules and Regulations. (Source: Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 10120, effective September 1, 2019)

Section 1317.40 Disorderly Conduct The following shall constitute disorderly conduct and be reason for a civil penalty, suspension, or revocation of a driver's license: a) Failure to obey the stewards' or judges' orders; b) Failure to drive when programmed unless excused by the s…

Section 1317.50 Caretakers No attendant of a horse shall appear upon the track one hour preceding post time of the first event of the day or night without proper uniform. No attendant of a horse shall smoke upon the track.

Section 1317.60 Colors Drivers must wear distinguishing colors and shall not be allowed to start in a race or other public performance unless in the opinion of the judges they are properly dressed. In any race or appearance on the race track during the racing program, raingear wo…

Section 1317.70 Restricted Areas for Drivers in Colors No driver wearing colors shall appear at a betting window, grandstand or clubhouse, or at a bar or in a restaurant or any other such place unless permitted by the stewards. (Source: Amended at 14 Ill.Reg. 17639, effective Oct…

Section 1317.80 Driver Substitutions No driver can decline to be substituted by Stewards. Refusal of substitution shall result in a scratch. (Source: Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 10120, effective September 1, 2019)

Section 1317.85 Conflict of Interest a) No driver shall drive a horse in a race in which there shall start another horse that he in any way represents or handles, unless coupled as an entry. b) No driver shall drive a horse in a race in which there shall start another horse in wh…

Section 1317.90 Driving Violations Where the penalty is for a driving violation and does not exceed in time a period of five days, the driver may complete the engagements of all horses declared in before the penalty becomes effective. Such driver may drive in stake, futurity, ear…

Section 1318.10 Racing Conduct Although a leading horse is entitled to any part of the track except after selecting his position in the home stretch, neither the driver of the first horse or any other driver in the race shall do any of the following things, which shall be conside…

Section 1318.110 Accidents In the case of accidents, only so much time shall be allowed as the judges may deem necessary and proper.

Section 1318.120 Use of Hopples Any person found guilty of removing or altering a horse's hopples for the purpose of fraud shall be suspended, or expelled. Any horse habitually wearing hopples shall not be permitted to start in a race without them except by the permission of the …

Section 1318.130 Breaking a) When a horse or horses break from their gait in trotting or pacing, their driver shall at once, where clearance exists, take such horse to the inside or outside and pull it to its gait. b) The following shall be considered violations of this Section: …

Section 1318.140 Breaking on Purpose If, in the opinion of the judges, a driver allows his horse to break for the purpose of fraudulently losing a heat or dash, he shall be liable to the penalties elsewhere provided for fraud and fouls.

Section 1318.150 Call Out Breaks To assist in determining the matters contained in sections 7.02 and 7.03, (11 Ill. Adm. Code Sections 1307.20 and 1307.30) it shall be the duty of one of the judges to call out every break made, and the clerk shall at once note the break and chara…