The Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta are AMENDED as follows:
Chapter 3: General Horse Racing Rules, Part 6 Standardbred Racing, Division 7 Driving Rules
The following Directive No. 100-2019 regarding Rule 458 s is AMENDED as follows:
Directive No. 100 - 2019, Rule 458 s Obligations of driver
1. A driver shall not commit any of the following acts which are considered
violations of driving rules:
a. fails to obey the starter's instructions;
b. willfully backs off the starting gate after having been in position;
c. allow another horse to pass needlessly on the inside, or commit any other act that helps another horse to improve its position;
d. take up or slow up in front of other horses so as to cause confusion or interference among the trailing horses;
e. lay off a normal pace and leave a hole when it is well within the horse's capacity to keep the hole closed;
f. drive in a careless or reckless manner;
g. fail to set or maintain a pace comparable to a pace that the caliber of horses in the race are capable of, resulting in an excessively slow quarter or any other distance, considering track conditions, weather and circumstances confronted in the race;
h. fail to properly contest a slow;
i. take up or slow up in front of other horses and then subsequently come on when challenged;
j . fails to report an interference or any other infraction that occurs during a race
and was noticed by the driver;
k. a driver violates the Rules if he/she lodges a complaint which the Judges deem to be frivolous;
I. if the Judges believe that a horse is, or has been driven with design to prevent it winning a race or races, they shall consider it a violation by the driver;
m. drives a horse to perpetrate or aid in a fraud or corrupt practice;
n. if the Judges believe that a horse has been driven in an inconsistent manner, they shall consider it a violation;
o. whips shall:
(a) be no more than 48 inches in length, not including the snapper;
(b) be made of a material other than rawhide;
(c) include a snapper that is no less than 6 inches and no more than 12 inches in length; and
(d) not include a snapper that is altered from original manufacture or knotted.
p. uses a whip or crop in a brutal, excessive or indiscriminate manner;
q. a driver shall not make an overt kicking motion towards the horse before, during or after a race;
r. uses a whip to interfere with or cause disturbance to any other horse or driver;
s. strikes a wheel disc with a whip;
t. If the Judges believe that a horse has been driven in an unsatisfactory manner due to lack of effort, they shall consider it a violation.
2. Urging rule violations
(1) At any time while on the grounds of an Association, it is a violation of the Rules for a driver, or the person in control of the horse, to engage in any of the following actions with respect to their driving conduct:
(a) indiscriminate action, which is characterized by unrestrained or careless activity;
(b) excessive action, which is characterized by unreasonable quantity or degree, including using the whip continuously and/or without allowing the horse time to respond;
(c) aggressive action, which is characterized by inhumane, severe or brutal activity.
(2) The whip shall not be used on a horse in a race:
(a) where the horse is not visibly responding;
(b) where the horse is not in contention for a meaningful position;
(c) where the horse is not maintaining or improving its position;
(d) where the horse is clearly winning;
(e) where the horse has passed the winning post at the finish of a race.
(3) At any time while on the grounds of an Association, the whip shall only be used for safety purposes and for very light encouragement. The only movement allowed to encourage a horse is a movement of the wrist.
It is a violation of the Rules for a driver, or the person in control of the horse, to use the whip to hit or make contact with the horse as follows:
(a) to raise their hand(s) above their head;
(b) to use more than acceptable wrist action;
(c) to cause any portion of the whip to be outside the confines of the wheels of the race bike;
(d) to strike the shaft of the race bike, or the horse below the level of the shaft of the race bike;
(e) to cut or welt a horse.
(4) A driver, or the person in control of the horse, is required to:
(a) keep a line in each hand for the entire race, from the starter's call to the gate until the finish of the race, except for the purpose of adjusting equipment;
(b) keep both hands in front of their body;
(c) keep their hands below their head, and
(d) have control of their horse at all times when on the racetrack.
(5) Violation of any of the provisions in Rule 458 s (2) Urging rule violations (1), (2), (3) and (4) may result in any of the following penalties:
(a) monetary penalty;
(b) suspension;
(c) placement;
(d) disqualification, and/or
(e) any other penalty as ordered.
Directive No. 100- 2019, Rule 458 s Obligations of driver previously stated:
1 . A driver violates these rules if the driver
a. fails to obey the starter's instructions;
b. willfully backs off the starting gate after having been in position;
c. allow another horse to pass needlessly on the inside, or commits any other act that helps another horse to improve its position;
d. take up or slows up in a manner in front of other horses so as to cause confusion or interference among the trailing horses;
e. lays off a normal pace and leaves a hole when it is well within the horse's capacity to keep the hole closed;
f. drives in a careless, reckless or unsatisfactory manner;
g. fails to set or maintain a pace comparable to the class in which the driver is racing, considering track conditions, weather and circumstances in the race;
h. fail to properly contest an excessively slow pace having regard to the horse's ability, track conditions, weather and circumstances in the race;
i. backs off from any position and subsequently comes on when challenged;
j. fails to report an interference or any other infraction that occurs during a race and was noticed by the driver;
k. lodges a claim of foul, violation of the or any other rules, objection or complaint which the judges board considers frivolous;
I. drives a horse in a manner that prevents the driver from winning a race;
m. drives a horse to perpetrate or aid in a fraud or corrupt practice;
n. drives a horse in an inconsistent manner;
o. uses a whip exceeding 3 feet 9 inches in length plus a snapper that is longer than 6 inches in length, or is of a colour not clearly visible and acceptable to the board of judges;
p. uses a whip or crop in a brutal, excessive or indiscriminate manner;
q. kicks a horse or allows their foot to come into contact with a horse by having their foot out of a stirrup;
r. uses a whip to interfere with or cause disturbance to any other horse or driver;
s. strikes a wheel disc with a whip;
t. If the Judges believe that a horse has been driven in an unsatisfactory manner due to lack of effort, they shall consider it a violation.
2. Urging rule violations
(1) At any time while on the grounds of an Association, it is a violation of the Rules for a driver, or the person in control of the horse, to engage in any of the following actions with respect to their driving conduct:
(a) indiscriminate action, which is characterized by unrestrained or careless activity;
(b) excessive action, which is characterized by unreasonable quantity or degree, including using the whip continuously and/or without allowing the horse time to respond;
(c) aggressive action, which is characterized by inhumane, severe or brutal activity.
(2) The whip shall not be used on a horse in a race:
(a) where the horse is not visibly responding;
(b) where the horse is not in contention for a meaningful position;
(c) where the horse is not maintaining or improving its position;
(d) where the horse is clearly winning;
(e) where the horse has passed the winning post at the finish of a race.
(3) At any time while on the grounds of an Association, the whip shall only be used for safety purposes and for very light encouragement. The only movement allowed to encourage a horse is a movement of the wrist.
It is a violation of the Rules for a driver, or the person in control of the horse, to use the whip to hit or make contact with the horse as follows:
(a) to raise their hand(s) above their head;
(b) to use more than acceptable wrist action;
(c) to cause any portion of the whip to be outside the confines of the wheels of the race bike;
(d) to strike the shaft of the race bike, or the horse below the level of the shaft of the race bike;
(e) to cut or welt a horse.
(4) A driver, or the person in control of the horse, is required to:
(a) keep a line in each hand for the entire race, from the starter's call to the gate until the finish of the race, except for the purpose of adjusting equipment;
(b) keep both hands in front of their body;
(c) keep their hands below their head, and
(d) have control of their horse at all times when on the racetrack.
(5) Violation of any of the provisions in Directive No. 100 - 2019, Rule 458 s (2) Urging rule violations (1 ), (2), (3) and (4) may result in any of the following penalties:
(a) monetary penalty;
(b) suspension;
(c) placement;
(d) disqualification, and/or
(e) any other penalty as ordered.
Dated at the City of Edmonton
in the province of Alberta
this 23 day of March , 2020
Kent Verlik, Chief Executive Officer
Horse Racing Alberta