Part III. Driving Rules
11VAC10-150-120. Start.
A driver shall obey the starter's instructions. The starter may make recommendations to the stewards that disciplinary action be taken against a driver for:
1. Delaying the start;
2. Failing to obey the starter's instructions;
3. Rushing ahead of the inside or outside wing of the starting gate;
4. Coming to the starting gate out of position.
5. Crossing over before reaching the starting post;
6. Interfering with another driver or horse during the start; and
7. Failing to come up into the correct post position.
When a horse comes to the starting gate out of its assigned post position and gains an unfair advantage by moving either to the left or right of its assigned post position before the starter gives the word "go," the horse may be disqualified and placed by the stewards.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.1, eff. July 15, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 16, Issue 26, eff. August 14, 2000.
11VAC10-150-130. Racing.
A. Although a leading horse is entitled to any part of the racing surface, except after selecting his position in the home stretch, the driver of the leading horse and any other driver committing any of the following acts shall be subject to disciplinary action:
1. Changing either to the right or left during any part of the race when another horse is so near him that it causes the other horse to shorten its stride or make a break;
2. Jostling, striking, hooking wheels or interfering with another horse or driver;
3. Crossing sharply in front of a horse or crossing over in front of a field of horses in a reckless manner, endangering other drivers;
4. Swerving in and out or pulling up quickly;
5. Crowding a horse or driver;
6. Carrying a horse out;
7. Causing confusion or interference among trailing horses;
8. Letting a horse pass inside needlessly or otherwise helping another horse to improve his position in the race;
9. Committing any act which shall impede the progress of another horse or causing him to break;
10. Changing course after selecting a position in the home stretch;
11. Swerving in and out, or bearing in and out, in a manner so as to interfere with another horse, cause another driver to change course or take back;
12. Driving in a careless or reckless manner;
13. Loud shouting or other improper conduct; and
14. Kicking a horse, which shall be defined as a blow or thrust with the foot against any part of the horse's body or to impel by striking with the foot. Removal of a foot from the stirrups in and of itself shall not constitute the offense of kicking. The stewards shall assess a minimum fine of $200, a suspension or both disciplinary actions for the first violation, and any subsequent violation shall result in a suspension.
B. If at a racetrack that does not have a continuous solid inside hub rail a horse or part of the horse's sulky leaves the course by going inside the hub rail or other demarcation that constitutes the inside limits of the course, the offending horse shall be placed one or more positions where, in the opinion of the stewards, the action gave the horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race or the action helped the horse improve its position in the race. In addition, when an act of interference causes a horse or part of the horse's sulky to cross the inside limits of the course, and the horse is placed by the judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.2, eff. July 15, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 16, Issue 26, eff. August 14, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002; Volume 20, Issue 4, eff. November 17, 2003.
11VAC10-150-140. Objections.
A driver shall lodge an objection by promptly informing the patrol judge prior to pulling up his horse after the race and dismounting. He shall proceed immediately to the designated telephone in the paddock to explain his objection.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.3, eff. July 15, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002.
11VAC10-150-150. Driven to the finish.
A driver shall drive his horse so as to win or finish as near as possible to the first-place horse and demonstrate the best and fastest performance of which it is capable during the race.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.4, eff. July 15, 1991.
11VAC10-150-160. Inconsistent driving.
When a horse is driven or has been driven in the past with a design to prevent its winning a race, which it was evidently capable of winning, or driven in an inconsistent manner, or driven in a manner to perpetrate a fraud, the driver and anyone conspiring with him shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.5, eff. July 15, 1991.
11VAC10-150-170. Breaking.
A. Driver's responsibility. When a horse breaks from its gait, the driver shall at once, where clearance exists, take the horse to the outside and pull it to its gait. The stewards may set any horse back one or more places if a driver of a breaking horse does not:
1. Properly attempt to pull the horse to its gait;
2. Take the horse to the outside where clearance exists; or
3. Lose ground by the break.
B. Lapped-on break. The stewards shall set back a breaking horse when the nose of a contending horse, which is on gait, is at least even with the hind quarter of the breaking horse at the finish.
C. Fraudulent intent. A driver allowing his horse to break, or causing his horse to make a break, for a fraudulent purpose shall be subject to disciplinary action.
D. Notation. One of the stewards shall call out a break made during the course of a race so that the clerk of the course may make a notation on the horse's eligibility certificate.
E. Any horse making a break that causes interference to other contending horses may be placed behind all offended horses; if there has been no failure on the part of the driver of the breaking horse in complying with this section, the driver may not be subject to disciplinary action by the stewards.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.6, eff. July 15, 1991; amended, Virginia Register Volume 16, Issue 26, eff. August 14, 2000.
11VAC10-150-180. Excessive conversation.
A driver engaging in excessive or unnecessary conversation between or among other drivers while on the racing surface, either during warmup trips, post parade or races shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR662-05-02 § 3.7, eff. July 15, 1991.
11VAC10-150-190. Qualifying races.
A. No Standardbred may be raced unless it has a race at the chosen gait, with a charted line in qualifying time, within 30 days of its last race; however, this may be extended to 45 days for a particular race or race meet with the approval of the stewards.
B. If a Standardbred does not have a charted line within 30 days (or 45 days if approved by the stewards in accordance with subsection A of this section) of its race, then the horse must race in a qualifying race under the supervision of the stewards to determine its fitness for racing.
C. The following provisions shall apply to qualifying races:
1. The licensee shall provide appropriate personnel for qualifying races to keep a charted line for each Standardbred in each qualifying race, an electronic timing device shall be in operation, and a photo-finish camera shall be in operation;
2. The licensee shall schedule as many qualifying races on as many days as is deemed appropriate for the horse supply, and the licensee shall maintain the racing surface in condition so that all Standardbreds have a reasonable opportunity to meet the qualifying time;
3. A Standardbred must race in a qualifying race if it has one race over a fast track that is not in the qualifying time as agreed upon by the licensee and the representative of the horsemen or on gait;
4. A Standardbred coming off the Veterinarian's List must race in a qualifying race, and the stewards, in their discretion, may require the horse to race in one or more qualifying races to establish its fitness for racing; and
5. The stewards, in their discretion, may authorize the collection of blood, urine or other samples of body substances from Standardbreds after competing in qualifying races.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 2, eff. September 16, 2017.
11VAC10-150-200. Time trials.
For Standardbreds, time trials are permitted with the permission of the licensee and the commission provided that (i) the horse is subject to post-race testing; (ii) an electronic timing device is utilized; (iii) if the horse is accompanied by prompters, the prompters shall not precede the horse; and (iv) the stewards are present.
Statutory Authority
§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002.