Washington Administrative Code

An application for a Class A, B, or C license must include an affidavit of the applicant or the applicant's agent setting forth the following:(1) The class of license being applied for;(2) If the applicant is an individual, his/her legal name and the legal name of his/her spouse …

(1) As part of the application process, the commission has the right to require fingerprints from those persons the commission determines necessary to ensure those persons suitable for horse racing are granted a license to own and/or operate a racing facility where parimutuel wag…

An application for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose the following:(1) The organizational structure of the applicant, whether individual business, corporation, nonprofit corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, or other;(2) If the applicant is an indivi…

An applicant for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose whether the applicant or any individual or other entity identified in the application has:(1) Ever been charged in a criminal proceeding with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony. If so, the applicant must disclose t…

An applicant for Class A, B, or C license, at the time of application, will provide the commission a detailed description, floor plans and site plans of the horse racing facility. At a minimum, the description must include the following:(1) The address of the facility, its size, …

An applicant for Class A, B, or C license, at the time of application, will disclose to the commission its development process, if any, which must include the following:(1) The total cost of construction, renovation or repairs of the facility, distinguishing between fixed costs a…

An applicant for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose the following:(1) An audited financial statement reflecting the applicant's current assets, including investments in affiliated entities, loans and advances receivable and fixed assets and current liabilities, including lo…

An applicant for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose its financial plan. For a Class A license this must include the financial projections for the development period and each of the first five racing years. For a Class B or C license this must include the financial projectio…

An applicant for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose actions of government agencies, which include:(1) The street and highway improvements necessary to ensure adequate access to applicant's facility, and the cost of improvements, status, likelihood of completion, and estimat…

An applicant for a Class A, B, or C license must disclose the following regarding development, ownership, and operation of its parimutuel horse racing facility:(1) A description of the applicant's management plan, with budget and identification of management personnel by function…

The commission may deny a Class A, B, or C license to conduct a race meet when, in its judgment, a denial of a license appears to be in the best interest of horse racing and/or the public.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 08-17-050, § 260-13-600, filed 8/14/0…

(1) An applicant for a Class A or B license must submit to the executive secretary at the time of application a certified check or bank draft to the order of the state of Washington in the amount of fifty thousand dollars to cover the costs of the investigation mandated by these …

The executive secretary must designate an individual who will clarify Class A, B, and C license application requirements upon the oral or written request of a potential or actual applicant. The designee must respond to clarification requests in writing within five business days. …

The commission may only consider a substantive amendment to a license application after its submission if such amendment is made at the direction of the commission and/or is deemed by the commission to be in the best interests of the horse racing industry.[Statutory Authority: RC…

The commission will provide an applicant for a license an opportunity to make an oral presentation of its application to the commission before the commission decides whether to issue a license. The commission is not required to provide an applicant more than one opportunity to ma…

(1) A Class A or B license does not become effective until the commission receives a certified check or bank draft to the order of the state of Washington equal to two hundred dollars times the number of racing days requested in the license application and is void if the license …

The definitions in this section apply throughout these rules unless the context requires otherwise.(1) "Commissioner." A member of the Washington state horse racing commission.(2) "Employee." Any full or part time employee of the commission.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and…

No commissioner or employee may accept any thing of economic value, as defined in chapter 42.52 RCW, from any applicant, licensee, or association except as allowed by law.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-15-042, § 260-14-020, filed 7/13/07, effective 8/13…

No commissioner or employee may have any ownership interest in any association which seeks race meet dates.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-15-042, § 260-14-030, filed 7/13/07, effective 8/13/07; Order 73.3, § 260-14-030, filed 6/28/73.]

A commissioner, employee, or the spouse of a commissioner or employee may not make any wager as follows:(1) On the outcome of any race at a facility under the jurisdiction of the commission;(2) With an authorized advanced deposit wagering service provider licensed by the commissi…

No commissioner or employee may have any ownership interest in any race horse running at any race meet under the jurisdiction of the commission.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-15-042, § 260-14-050, filed 7/13/07, effective 8/13/07. Statutory Authority: R…

No commissioner or employee of the commission may receive any compensation whatsoever from an association for any services performed for or on behalf of an association or performed during a race meet for which he or she is employed by the commission.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.1…

(1) Any violation of any of the rules in this chapter by any commissioner will be considered official misconduct and will be reported by the executive secretary to the governor.(2) Any violation by any employee will be considered misconduct and will be grounds for discipline, inc…

(1) To encourage the breeding of horses in the state of Washington, at least one race per race day at Class A, B, and C race meets, whether advertised or not, shall consist exclusively of Washington-bred horses. (RCW 67.16.070)(2) Only horses certified as Washington-bred, are eli…

(1) For purposes of the distribution of the owner's bonus and breeder's awards, a Washington-bred horse is one that meets the following requirements:(a) The horse was foaled within the boundaries of the state of Washington; and(b) The horse is certified as Washington-bred for its…

Consistent with the applicable laws in chapter 67.16 RCW and the applicable rules in Title 260 WAC, the Washington-bred owners' bonus and breeder awards will be retained, collected, and distributed as follows:(1) Washington-bred owner's bonus. A Class 1 racing association will wi…

(1) The one percent Washington-bred owner's bonus funds collected from each racing association must be paid in accordance with RCW 67.16.102 by the commission at the end of the race meet to the licensed owners of Washington-bred horses finishing first, second, third and fourth in…

Nonprofit race meets, as defined in RCW 67.16.105(1) and 67.16.130(1) are exempt from the requirements to collect and distribute owner's bonus and breeder's awards as outlined in this chapter.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-13-052, § 260-16-075, filed 6/…

A racing association, its officers, directors, officials and employees will abide by and enforce the rules of racing and the orders of the commission and decisions of the executive secretary and stewards. A racing association may request an exemption from a requirement in this ch…

Weather conditions permitting, the racing association must:(1) Maintain their racetrack in a condition that is safe for the riders and horses; and(2) Have implements available to maintain a uniform track.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-11-115, § 260-20-0…

(1) A racing association must provide and maintain a working communication system between the stewards' stand, race office, tote room, jockeys' quarters, paddock, test barn, starting gate, weigh-in scale, video camera locations, clockers' stand, track announcer, location of the a…

(1) The surface of a racetrack, including the cushion, subsurface and base, must be designed, constructed and maintained to provide for the safety of the riders and horses.(2) Prior to the first race meet at an association racetrack, a licensed surveyor may be required to provide…

(1) A racing association will provide lighting for the racetrack and the patron facilities to ensure the safety and security of the patrons, licensees and horses.(2) A racing association will provide additional lighting in the stable area.(3) If a racing association conducts raci…

(1) All racing associations will ensure that the barns are kept clean and in good repair. At Class A and B racing associations, each barn, including the receiving and test barns, must have a hot and cold water supply available, be well-ventilated, and have proper drainage.(2) All…

(1) All racing associations must provide a test barn for taking specimens for testing. The test barn must be equipped with:(a) A walk ring that is large enough to accommodate four horses;(b) An approved amount of enclosed stalls that permit observation of the collection process a…

(1) A racing association will develop and implement a program for fire prevention on association grounds. An association will instruct employees working on association grounds of the procedures for fire prevention. The racing association must retain inspection reports for three y…

(1) A person may only be permitted to enter the restricted areas of the racing association grounds under the following conditions:(a) The person possesses a license or credentials issued by the commission.(b) The person possesses a pass issued by the association.(c) The person ha…

The racing association may issue passes to allow access to restricted areas of the grounds. Each pass must be numbered and kept in numerical order in the association's records. The commission may inspect these records at any time.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040.…

Firearms are not permitted on the grounds of any racing association, except by security personnel employed by the association and law enforcement officers. Any person who brings or possesses firearms on the grounds may be suspended and/or ejected from the grounds.[Statutory Autho…

(1) A racing association conducting a race meet must maintain security controls over its grounds.(2) An association will prevent access to, and will remove or cause to be removed from its restricted areas any person who is unlicensed, or who has not been issued a visitor's pass o…

(1) Racing associations must provide a vehicle properly equipped and staffed with two emergency medical technicians, one hour before post time until the last race is official, each day the track is open for racing.(2) Class A or B racing associations must also provide a first-aid…

(1) A racing association must provide an equine ambulance staffed by trained personnel on association grounds each day that the racetrack is open for racing or training. The ambulance must be properly ventilated and kept at an entrance to the racing strip when not in use. The amb…

Each racing association will provide facilities for the use of jockeys separate from the public areas.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-11-115, § 260-20-180, filed 5/18/07, effective 6/18/07; Rules of racing, § 331, filed 4/21/61.]

Class A and B racing associations will provide sanitary living quarters for grooms and other stable employees.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-11-115, § 260-20-190, filed 5/18/07, effective 6/18/07; Rules of racing, § 332, filed 4/21/61.]

Each racing association will provide an adequate area for the placement of manure removed from the stalls. All manure must be removed from the stable area in a timely manner.[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. WSR 07-11-115, § 260-20-210, filed 5/18/07, effective 6…

A racing association must provide starting point markers and distance poles in a size and position that is clearly seen from the stewards' stand. The starting point markers and distance poles must be marked as follows:1/4 PolesRed and White Horizontal Stripes1/8 PolesGreen and Wh…

(1) At least ten days prior to the first day of an approved race meet, the association must submit to the commission, in writing, the names of all racing officials for the race meet.(2) At least ten days prior to the first day of an approved race meet, the executive secretary mus…

(1) Officials at a race meet include the following:(a) Stewards;(b) Racing secretary;(c) Assistant racing secretary;(d) Horsemen's bookkeeper;(e) Mutuel manager or designee;(f) Official veterinarian(s);(g) Horse identifier;(h) Paddock judge;(i) Starter;(j) Assistant starters;(k) …

(1) General authority:(a) The stewards for each race meet are responsible to the executive secretary for the conduct of the race meet and the initial agency determination of alleged rule violations in accordance with these rules;(b) The stewards will enforce the rules of racing i…

The racing secretary is responsible for the following duties:(1) Programming of races during the race meet;(2) Compiling and publishing condition books;(3) Assigning weights for handicap races;(4) Receiving all entries, nominations, and scratches;(5) Supervising the racing office…