Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
7883.0150 PADDOCK TO POST.
Subpart 1.
Horses must have identifying equipment.
In a race, each horse must carry a conspicuous saddlecloth number corresponding to its number on the official program. In the case of any coupled entry, each horse making up the coupled entry shall carry the same number as the first part of the entry, along with a distinguishing letter; for example: 1, 1a, or 1b.
Subp. 2.
Trainer to have horse in paddock.
A trainer shall have his or her horses in the paddock not less than 20 minutes before post time. The trainer shall also attend his or her horse in the paddock and be present to supervise its saddling, unless he or she has obtained permission of a steward to send an assistant trainer or another trainer as a substitute. Every horse must be saddled in the paddock unless permission has been granted by the stewards to saddle elsewhere.
Subp. 3.
Bandages and blankets.
Immediately upon arrival in the paddock, all blankets and bandages, except those bandages that will be worn during a race, must be removed. Should weather conditions so dictate, blankets may be worn after saddling with permission of the paddock judge. After saddling, all horses must be walked to allow a satisfactory examination. Bandages that will be worn during a race must not be fastened with safety pins or metal/plastic binders of any kind. No soft cast or gelatinous bandages may be used under the bandages worn during a race.
Subp. 4.
Horses excused from parading.
The stewards may permit a horse to be excused from parading with the other horses and be led to the post, but such horse shall nevertheless pass the stewards' stand on its way to the post.
Subp. 5.
Lead ponies.
Lead ponies and their riders shall be permitted to enter the saddling paddock or walking ring only with the permission of the stewards.
Subp. 6.
Duration of post parade.
After entering the course not more than 14 minutes shall be consumed in the parade of the horses to the post except in cases of unavoidable delay. After passing the steward's stand once, horses will be allowed to break formation and canter, warm up, or go as they please to the post unless otherwise directed by the stewards. When the horses have reached the post, they will be started without unnecessary delay.
Subp. 7.
Horses must be free of attendants.
After the horses enter the course, no jockey shall dismount and no horse shall be entitled to the care of an attendant without consent of the stewards or the starter, and the horse must be free of all hands other than those of the jockey or assistant starter before the field is dispatched by the starter. In case of accident to a jockey or to his or her mount or equipment, the stewards or the starter may permit the affected jockey to dismount and the horse to be cared for during the delay, and may permit all other jockeys to dismount and all other horses to be attended during the delay.
Subp. 8.
Horse must carry weight from paddock to post.
Each horse must carry its assigned weight from paddock to post and from post to finish. If a jockey is thrown on the way from the paddock to the post, the horse must be remounted, returned to the point where the jockey was thrown, and then proceed over the route of the parade to the post.
Subp. 9.
Injury to jockey.
If the jockey is so injured on the way to the post to require substitution of another jockey, the horse shall be returned to the paddock, or the winner's circle or other area designated by the stewards, another jockey mounted, and then ridden over any uncompleted portion of the exact route of the parade to the starting point.
Subp. 10.
Horse leaves race course.
If a horse dislodges a rider, leaves the course when moving from paddock to post, and is out of sight by the stewards or track veterinarian, it shall be deemed an automatic steward scratch.
Subp. 12.
Prohibition on assisting a start.
No person other than the jockey, starter, or assistant starter shall be permitted to strike a horse or attempt by shouting or otherwise to assist it in getting a start.
Subp. 13.
Farrier in paddock.
The association must ensure that a commission-licensed farrier is in the paddock or receiving barn and available to perform the duties of a commission-licensed farrier during the time of live horse racing.
Subp. 14.
Flipping halters.
Any horse entered to race with a flipping halter must arrive in the paddock with the halter in place under the bridle. For purposes of this subpart, a "flipping halter" means a device used to prevent a horse from rearing up inside the starting gate.
History:
9 SR 2527; 10 SR 2161; 14 SR 2008; 22 SR 1785; 25 SR 1609; 33 SR 8; 40 SR 1393; 42 SR 1258; 46 SR 1210
Published Electronically:
May 12, 2022
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes