Ohio Administrative Code

A bugle shall sound as the horses come upon the track. After the horses enter the track, the course to be raced over shall be closed to all but racing officials until the judges direct that it be reopened. Horses are not permitted to warm up through post parade. Last updated July…

h 119. PDF: (A) Horses shall be in the hands of the starter from the time they arrive on the track until the start is effected. All horses shall parade from the paddock to the starting post, and no driver shall dismount without the permission of the starter. Attendants may not ca…

h 119. PDF: The starter shall give such orders and take such measures that do not conflict with the rules of racing, as are necessary to secure a fair start. Last updated August 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date: Prior Effective Dates: 3/15/1…

The starter shall be in the starting gate fifteen minutes before the post time of the first race. They shall have control over the horses and authority to assess fines and/or suspend drivers for any violation of the rules from the formation of the parade until the word "go" is gi…

(A) Starter's control. The starter shall have control of the horses from the formation of the parade until they give the word"go."(1) Scoring: After one or two preliminary warming-up scores, the starter shall notify the drivers to come to the starting gate. During or before the p…

In case of a recall, a light plainly visible to the drivers shall be flashed and a recall sounded, but the starting gate shall proceed out of the path of the horses. At commercial parimutuel tracks, in the case of a recall, wherever possible, the starter shall leave the wings of …

(A) A fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars or suspension from driving not to exceed ten days, or both, may be applied to any driver by the starter for:(1) Delaying the start;(2) Failure to obey the starter's instructions;(3) Rushing ahead of the inside or outside wing of …

(A) No persons shall be allowed to ride in the starting gate except the starter and their driver or operator, unless permission has been granted by the commission or the judges.(B) The use of mechanical loudspeaker for any purpose other than to give instructions to drivers is pro…

(A) When horses are started without a gate the starter shall have control of the horses from the formation of the parade until they give the word "go." The starter shall be located at the wire or other point of start of the race at which point as nearly as possible the word "go" …

(A) Starters: the horses are deemed to have started when the word "go" is given by the starter and all the 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.(B) Accident warning lights. Every ex…

The starter or their assistants shall school such horses as may be necessary and shall prepare a list of horses not qualified to start which shall be delivered to the judges and entered on the judge's list. The judge's list shall be posted in the racing secretary's office with th…

No starter or assistant starter shall either directly or indirectly wager on any race or engage in any betting transaction; nor shall they directly or indirectly receive presents, gratuities, remuneration, tips from any person or persons, or have any interest in any horse under t…

Each commercial permit holder shall provide at least one qualified person who shall serve as an outrider positioned on the track immediately prior to and during the running of all races held at such track. The general manager of each commercial track must submit to the commission…

(A) For a violation of any rule in this chapter and unless a rule specifically precludes the judges from doing so, the judges, upon the concurrence of two such officials, may fine a licensee an amount not in excess of the amount permitted by section 3769.091 of the Revised Code a…

(A) No permit holder shall allow any horse to start in a race unless the owner, owners, lessee or lessees of same are licensed or the owner has been issued a reciprocal validation for a current and properly issued owner's license from another state or other racing jurisdiction wh…

h 119. PDF: (A) To make application for an owner's license, a corporation must supply to the commission a copy of its articles of incorporation, a certified roster of corporate officers and directors, one of whom must be designated as the chief executive officer, and a certified …

h 119. PDF: Any owner or trainer may engage an authorized agent or agents who may handle all business between the permit holder and the agent's principal. No authorized agent shall be licensed by the commission except upon receipt of written notice of their engagement as an agent…

h 119. PDF: When a trainer is to be absent from his stable or the grounds where his horses are racing at a time when a horse under his care is scheduled to race or for a period of more than two racing days, he must provide a licensed trainer or assistant trainer to assume the joi…

h 119. PDF: (A) Drivers, when required by the judges, must provide a medical affidavit certifying that they are physically and mentally capable of performing the activities and duties of a licensed driver, including satisfactory evidence of an eye examination indicating twenty/fo…

h 119. PDF: No driver who has any financial interest in any race horse in training at a meeting shall drive any other horse in the same race with his horse at the same meeting. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:01 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date:

h 119. PDF: No driver, trainer or owner shall wager on any horse other than his own horse in any race in which he participates or permit anyone to so wager for him. For any violation of this rule, the driver, trainer or owner may be subject to such penalties provided by the rules…

h 119. PDF: Drivers, trainers, owners and grooms shall not converse or otherwise exchange information with anyone outside the paddock after they have entered therein, except on permission from the paddock judge, and they shall be disciplined for any breach of this rule. Last upda…

No individual will be permitted to ride, drive, or be behind a horse on a permit holder's premises unless wearing both a protective safety helmet with the chin strap in place, and an unaltered protective safety vest. Both shall be of a type satisfactory to the commission. Last up…

(A) No person riding on a sulky or jog cart shall race, train or jog a horse on the grounds of a facility under the jurisdiction of the Ohio state racing commission unless the horse is equipped with safety reins. A safety rein is a rein designed and constructed to provide a secur…

(A) Drivers must wear distinguishing colors and clean white pants, 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.(B) Any driver wearing colors who shall appear at a betting window or at a bar …

h 119. PDF: (A) Although a leading horse is entitled to any part of the track, neither the driver of the first horse or any other driver in the race shall do any of the following things, which shall be considered a violation of driving rules:(1) Change either to the right or left…

h 119. PDF: The judges shall take cognizance of foul driving, whether objection to same is made or not. The judges shall determine the extent of disqualification in cases of fouls occurring during the running of the race. They may place an offending horse just behind such horses …

Complaints against an official or officials shall be made to the judges in writing, signed by the .complainants. All such complaints shall be reported by the judges in writing to the commission together with any action taken thereon. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:02 AM Author…

h 119. PDF: (A) Every owner or trainer shall, if possible, upon making entry, furnish the name of the driver who will drive his horse, but if this is not possible, the name must be furnished at a time designated by the judges. At such time he shall report the equipment his horse …

If for any cause other than being interfered with or broken equipment, a horse fails to finish after starting in a heat, that horse shall be ruled out from subsequent heats. Last updated September 1, 2021 at 8:38 AM Authorized By: 3769.03 Amplifies: 3769.03 Five Year Review Date:…

(A) Loud shouting or other improper conduct is forbidden in a race.(B) Drivers shall keep both feet in the stirrups at all times while on the track and during the race, except to pull ear plugs.(C) Drivers shall not use any part of their feet and/or legs to impel a horse whether …

(A) All drivers must keep a line in each hand beginning when the horse is behind the starting gate and continuing through the finish of the race.(B) Whipping shall be restricted to elbow and wrist action only and the whipping arm shall not be raised above the driver's shoulder he…

h 119. PDF: The brutal use of a whip, crop, or excessive or indiscriminate use of the whip or crop shall be considered a violation and shall be punished by a fine and/or suspension. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:03 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date:

(A) The use of hopples from race to race is in the sole discretion of the trainer, and does not precipitate qualifying the horse. (B) No horse will wear hopples in a race unless it starts in the same in the first heat, and having so started will continue to wear them to the finis…

(A) When any horse breaks from their gait, the driver shall at once, where clearance exists, take the horse to the outside and pull it to its gait. The driver may take the horse inside the pylons if clearance to the outside does not exist.(1) The following shall be considered vio…

h 119. PDF: If, in the opinion of the judges, a driver allows his horse to break for the purpose of fraudulently losing a heat, he shall be liable to the penalties elsewhere provided in the rules of the Ohio state racing commission. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:03 AM Authori…

The leading horse shall be timed and his time only shall be announced. The horse finishing behind a horse disqualified by the judges may obtain a win race record if the horse's actual race time can be determined by photo finish or electronic timing. Last updated March 22, 2023 at…

h 119. PDF: To assist in determining the charting of a race, 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 character of it in writing. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Fi…

h 119. PDF: The time between separate heats of a single race shall be no less than forty minutes. No heat shall be called after sunset where the track is not lighted for night racing. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date:

h 119. PDF: In the case of accidents, the judges shall allow only so much time as they deem necessary and proper before resuming the racing program. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date:

h 119. PDF: A driver must be seated in his sulky at the finish of the race or the horse must be placed as not finishing. Last updated March 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM Authorized By: – Amplifies: – Five Year Review Date:

It shall be the responsibility of the owner, trainer, or driver to provide every sulky used in a race with unicolored or colorless wheel discs on the inside and outside of the wheel of a type approved by the commission. The drivers may use mud guards at any time. The judges may o…

Should any horse in a race fall or get loose on the track or be involved in an accident of any kind after starting to warm-up, that horse shall only be permitted to start after examination and approval by the track veterinarian. Should any horse fall or get loose during the post …

(A) The following shall constitute disorderly conduct and be reason for any penalty of a driver or trainer as provided by these rules:(1) Failure to obey the judges' orders that are expressly authorized by the rules of this commission;(2) Failure to drive when programmed unless e…

h 119. PDF: The judges may write suspensions in these main categories:(A) "Limited suspensions," used to suspend drivers for minor driving or other violations under which they may not drive during the term of the suspension but may continue to train and enter horses trained by th…

h 119. PDF: Where the penalty is for a driving violation and does not exceed in time a period of five days, the driver may complete the engagement of all horses declared in before the penalty becomes effective. During a suspension of five days or less such drivers may drive in st…

(A) If a person or horse is suspended, expelled, ruled off, or if his/her license is revoked, application for a license has been denied, or is under any other current penalty pursuant to the rules of the racing authority of any other state or country, such person or horse shall s…