58 Pa. Code Ch. 183 — Rules of Racing

§ 183.202. Driver information. Declarations shall contain the information required in § 183.191 (relating to declaration). Drivers may be changed without permission until scratch time as designated by the presiding judge. No driver shall be changed thereafter except by permission…

§ 183.203. Withdrawal of horses due to bad weather or track conditions. It shall be the duty of the presiding judge to call a meeting of all horsemen on the grounds before the opening of an extended pari-mutuel meet for the purpose of electing a member and an alternate to represe…

§ 183.204. Questionable track conditions. In case of questionable track conditions, the presiding judge shall call a meeting consisting of an authorized representative of management, the duly elected member of the horsemen, and himself. Cross References This section cited in 58 P…

§ 183.205. Unpermitted withdrawals. Upon unanimous decision of this committee of three that track conditions are safe for racing, no unpermitted withdrawals may be made. Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 183.60 (relating to presiding judge).

§ 183.206. Permitted withdrawals. (a) Any decision other than unanimous by this committee will allow any entrant to scratch his horse or horses after posting 10% of the purse to be raced for. If the number of withdrawals received shall cause the field to be less than five separat…

TRACKS § 183.21. Display of license. During the course of its race meetings, an association shall display the license issued by the Commission for the current year.

§ 183.22. Judge’s stand. The judge’s stand shall be so located and constructed as to afford the officials thereupon an unobstructed view of the entire track, and no obstruction may be permitted upon the track or the center field which shall obscure the judges’ vision of a portion…

POSTPONEMENT § 183.221. Postponement. (a) United States Trotting Association Rule 15, section 1, is incorporated herein and made a part hereof and shall govern matters related hereto, except that any matter necessitating action by an official of the United States Trotting Associa…

§ 183.222. Rain checks. In the event of cancellation of any program after the completion of 50% or more of the races scheduled to be run on each program, no rain checks or other similar forms of deferred admissions shall be issued or if issued on admittance, no rain checks will b…

§ 183.23. Bona fide contest. Races shall be bona fide 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 arrangement for equal distribution of the purse money among the contestants …

STARTING § 183.231. Starting gate. (a) The Starter, under the direction, supervision and control of the presiding judge shall have control of the horses from the formation of the parade until he gives the word ‘‘go.’’ (b) After the preliminary warming up scores or score, the star…

§ 183.232. Number of scores. Horses shall be permitted to take one or two scores before going to the post and upon completion of the scores, the horses shall be gathered by the starter and immediately moved into their positions behind the gate. Horses shall not be held in excess …

§ 183.233. Vacancy in a tier. 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…

§ 183.234. When race starts; drivers mounted at finish. The horses shall be deemed to have started when the word ‘‘go’’ is given by the starter and all the horses must go the course except in the event of an accident in which case the judges may deem it impossible to go the cours…

§ 183.235. 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. When this action is taken, the starter will notify the judges who will in…

§ 183.236. Placing bad acting horses on outside positions. At nonwagering meetings the starter may place a bad acting horse on the outside at his discretion. At pari-mutuel meetings, such action may be taken only where there is time for the starter to notify the judges who in tur…

§ 183.237. Starting gate requirements. Every Association shall utilize a mobile starting gate of a type and quality approved by the Commission. Every Association shall furthermore maintain a standby mobile starting gate similarly approved. The arms of all starting gates shall be …

§ 183.238. Gate malfunctions. Every licensed Starter is required to check his starting gate for malfunctions before commencing any meeting, and to practice procedures to be followed in the event of a malfunction. Both the starter and driver must know the emergency procedures and …

§ 183.239. Operation of starting gate. The association may employ additional persons to assist the starter in the performance of his duties and such personnel shall be licensed and approved by the Commission.

§ 183.24. Default in payment of purses. (a) An association or officer that defaults in the payment of purses will be penalized. (b) Other than a stake or futurity as covered in subsection (a), no association may enter an agreement with an organization requiring a deduction from t…

§ 183.240. Positions in winning heat. The horse winning a heat shall take the pole the succeeding heat, and all others shall take their positions in the order they were placed the last heat. When two or more horses shall have made a dead heat, their positions shall be settled by …

§ 183.241. Starting without gate. If due to an emergency it is impractical to start the horses with a mobile gate the horses may be started under United States Trotting Association Rule 16, sections 4 and 5. No horses shall be started using an overhead or snap barrier.

§ 183.242. Refunds of entry money. No refunds of entry money can be made for any purposes once the entered horse is in the control of the Starter except as provided in United States Trotting Association Rule 12, section 2.

§ 183.25. Financial obligations. (a) No permits may be issued under the provisions of the Commission to a person, firm or corporation engaged in the conducting of harness racing on a commerical basis solely with a view to profit unless and until the person, firm or corporation ha…

OWNERS, DRIVERS, TRAINERS AND GROOMS § 183.251. Application for license. Every person desiring to be an owner, trainer, driver, or groom, at a race meeting licensed by the Commission shall be required to obtain a license from the Commission. Applications may be filed at any Commi…

§ 183.252. Application and qualifications for a driver’s license. All license requirements will be in accordance with the United States Trotting Association Rule 17, except a restricted license as provided for in the United States Trotting Association Rule A-1, section 3. (1) The…

§ 183.253. Trainers; application for license. (a) The Commission shall deem a trainer as qualified for licensing if he has obtained a United States Trotting Association Trainers License for the current year. However, if the applicant satisfies the Commission that he possesses the…

§ 183.254. Grooms; applications for license. An applicant for a license as a groom must satisfy the Commission that he possesses the necessary qualifications, both mental and physical, to perform the duties required. Elements to be considered, among others, shall be character, re…

§ 183.255. Suspension or revocation of drivers’, trainers’ or grooms’ license. The license of any driver, trainer or groom may be suspended, revoked or a money fine may be imposed, at any time for: (1) Failure to obey the instructions of a racing official. (2) Failure to drive in…

§ 183.256. Reinstatement of license of drivers, trainers and grooms. A license may be reinstated by the Commission, in its discretion, upon application and upon such terms as the Commission may prescribe.

§ 183.257. Required time drivers should be present in paddock prior to race. Drivers shall be in the paddock at least 1 hour before post time for the races in which they are scheduled to drive.

§ 183.258. Breath analyzer test. (a) Breath analyzer tests shall be taken in accordance with § 183.40 (relating to breath analyzer requirements). (b) Trainers and grooms designated by the presiding judge or a Commission official shall take a breath analyzer test.

§ 183.259. Wearing distinguishing colors. (a) Drivers must wear distinguishing colors. No driver shall be permitted to start in a race or other public performance unless in opinion of the judges he is properly dressed. (b) When drivers are participating in races during inclement …

§ 183.26. Claims for unpaid purses. Claims for unpaid purses shall be filed with the Commission and with the United States Trotting Association. The Commission and the United States Trotting Association may release any performance bond that has been required 60 days after the clo…

§ 183.260. Wearing colors at betting window, grandstand, clubhouse or bar. No driver wearing colors shall appear at a betting window, grandstand or clubhouse, or at a bar in a restaurant dispensing alcoholic beverages.

§ 183.261. Registered colors. No driver or trainer shall be allowed to drive in any race or public performance, or to otherwise appear on the race track during the racing program unless wearing his own or his owner’s registered colors. No driver may appear in colors registered in…

§ 183.262. Safety helmets. No driver will be permitted to drive in a race unless he is wearing a protective safety helmet of a type satisfactory to the Commission and constructed with a hard shell and containing adequate padding and an adequate chin strap in place.

§ 183.263. Limitations on use of hand holders. Drivers shall not put their hands or wrists through the handholders while competing in races.

§ 183.264. Drivers’ meetings. (a) Before the first heat or race at any meeting is contested the racing officials and drivers shall meet at a time and place to be designated by the presiding judge. Notice of the time and place of such meetings shall be published on the bulletin bo…

§ 183.265. Removal and substitution of drivers. If the Judges believe a driver is unfit or incompetent to drive, or if he refuses to comply with the direction of the judges, or is reckless or unmannerly in his conduct, he may be removed and penalized and another driver may be sub…

§ 183.266. Owners; application for license. Every owner desiring to enter a harness horse at a race meeting licensed by the Commission shall be required to obtain a license from the Commission. The application shall be on forms provided by the Commission. ‘‘Owner’’ includes sole …

§ 183.267. Qualifications for owner’s license. Every applicant for a license as an owner in addition to other requirements in this chapter shall be in accordance with the following: (1) Be at least 18 years of age unless a parent or legal guardian expressly assumes responsibility…

§ 183.268. Suspension or revocation of owners’ licenses. The license of an owner may be suspended, revoked or a money fine may be imposed for: (1) Failure to obey the instructions of a racing official. (2) Failure to race his horse when programmed, unless excused by the presiding…

§ 183.269. Reinstatement of owner’s license. A license may be reinstated by the Commission, in its discretion, upon application and upon terms as the Commission may prescribe.

§ 183.27. Indemnity by the association. At a meet of an association, liability shall attach to an association for a race promoted by others, as if the race had been offered by such association.

§ 183.270. Trainers’ duty regarding racing of horses. A trainer is responsible for the timely attendance of his horse when it is being raced, and he shall attend his horse in the paddock to supervise the preparation of the horse when it is in the paddock until his horse’s race co…

§ 183.271. Absence of trainer; notice; substitute trainer. If a licensed trainer is to be absent from the track where employed, the presiding judge shall be immediately notified in writing and at that time a licensed substitute trainer, acceptable to the presiding judge, shall be…

§ 183.272. Insurance and Workmen’s Compensation. Every owner, driver or trainer who employs or hires a person required by the laws of the Commonwealth to be covered by Workmen’s Compensation shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Commission that the owner, driver or trainer has …

§ 183.28. Dishonored checks. When an association pays any purse by check, which upon presentation is dishonored, the matter shall immediately be referred to the Commission for disposition.

RACING AND TRACK RULES § 183.281. Driving procedures. 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 nor any other driver in the race shall commit any of the following ac…