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(NAR) VOL. 2 NO. 1/JANUARY-MARCH 1991
[ PRC, October 15, 1990 ]
RULES AND REGULATIONS (AS FURTHER AMENDED) GOVERNING HORSE RACING IN THE PHILIPPINES
CHAPTER I
The Commission:
Jurisdiction, Powers, Functions, Officers
SECTION 1. Declaration of Purpose — The Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) shall promote and direct the accelerated development and continuous growth of horse racing not only in furtherance of the sports development program of the government but also in order to insure the full exploitation of horse racing as a source of revenue and employment.
Horse Racing as one of the oldest and universally popular diversions of man has become highly specialized and sophisticated so as to necessitate more attention of the government.
SECTION 1.0 Composition and Term of Office — The PHILRACOM shall be composed of a Chairman and four (4) members. The term of office of the Commissioners shall be for four (4) years; Provided, That no vacancy shall be filled except for the unexpired portion of any term, and Provided further, that any member of the PHILRACOM whose term of office has expired shall remain in office until his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified.
SECTION 1.1 Meetings and Quorum — The PHILRACOM shall meet regularly once a week, and as often as the exigencies of the service may demand, upon the call of the Chairman or upon the request of two (2) members of the PHILRACOM. The vote of at least three (3) members shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, resolution, or decision of the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 2. Jurisdiction — Generally, the PHILRACOM shall have exclusive jurisdiction and control over every aspect of the conduct of horse racing, including the framing and scheduling of races, the construction and safety of race tracks, the allocation of prizes and the security of racing, and such other powers, duties, and functions as provided for under Presidential Decree No. 420 and other applicable laws, decrees, directives, executive orders, and rules and regulations.
SECTION 2.0 Powers and Functions — The PHILRACOM shall have the following powers and functions:
a. to enforce all laws, decrees, directives, executive orders, and letters of instructions relating to horse racing;
b. to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations;
c. to review, modify, approve, or disapprove the rules and regulations issued by persons or entities concerning the conduct of horse races held by them;
d. to issue permits and licenses and to impose and collect fees for the issuance of such licenses and permits to persons or entities required to obtain the same;
e. in case the weather or race track is in an unfit state for running, or where the race facilities such as starting gate, photo patrols, or video recording, communication is in such bad or defective condition as to adversely affect the result of the races, or in case of exceptional circumstances taking into account the interest of the betting public, to postpone or abandon any race for that day whether before or after commencement of the race meeting;
f. to register racehorses, their owners, and associations or federations thereof;
g. to regulate the construction of race tracks and to grant permits or licenses for the holding of races;
h. to supervise all such race meetings, to assure integrity at all times, and to order the suspension or cancellation of any racing event in case of violation of any law, decree, directive, ordinance, or rules and regulations;
i. to prohibit the use of improper devices, drugs, stimulants, or other means to enhance or diminish the speed of horses or materially harm their conditions;
j. to approve the annual budget of the PHILRACOM and such supplemental budgets as may be necessary;
k. to enter into contracts involving obligations chargeable to or against the funds of the PHILRACOM;
l. to impose fines, penalties, and forfeitures on erring parties under these rules and regulations which shall accrue directly to the funds of the PHILRACOM;
m. in its discretion or upon the petition of any interested party, after notice and hearing, to modify, suspend, or revoke any permit or license for failure to comply with or for violation of any provision of law, decree, directive, or any executive order, rules and regulations issued thereunder; Provided, that for good cause and without notice and hearing, the PHILRACOM may order the temporary suspension of such permit/license whenever such step, in the judgment of the PHILRACOM shall be necessary and for the best interest of racing and the public;
n. to summon parties, issue subpoena, or require the production of such documents, books, papers, contracts, records, or statement of accounts as may be necessary to a just determination of any matter under investigation;
o. to have access to all stands during a racing day, to inspect/check on the consequences of betting, the track, grandstands, jockeys’ quarters, stables, and such other premises within the clubs; and
p. to perform such other duties and exercise all other powers incidental or necessary to the accomplishment of the aims and objectives of the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 3. Officers — The Executive Officers of the PHILRACOM shall consist of the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and such other officers as the PHILRACOM may appoint or designate from time to time.
SECTION 3.0 Chairman — The Chairman shall be the presiding officer of the Commission in all its meetings.
In the event of the permanent or temporary incapacity of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman or in his absence, any officer as may be designated by the Chairman shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Chairman, until such time as his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified or his incapacity no longer exists.
SECTION 3.1 Executive Director — The PHILRACOM shall appoint an Executive Director who shall be the head of the office. He shall have overall supervision over every aspect of the conduct of horse racing. He shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as maybe determined by the PHILRACOM. Those who are directly involved in the conduct of horse racing shall be under the immediate supervision of the Executive Director.
SECTION 3.2 Assistant Executive Director (Director for Racing) — The PHILRACOM shall appoint an Assistant Executive Director (Director for Racing) who shall assist the Executive Director in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties of his office. In the event of the permanent or temporary incapacity of the latter, the former shall assume the office of the Executive Director, until such time as his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified or his incapacity no longer exists.
SECTION 3.3 Other Officers — The PHILRACOM shall appoint such other officials and employees, as it may deem necessary to assist the PHILRACOM in the performance of its powers, duties, and functions. They shall perform such other duties and functions as maybe assigned to them from time to time.
SECTION 4. Board of Stewards — The PHILRACOM shall act through a Board of Stewards who shall have supervision and control over the conduct of races during racing days.
SECTION 4.0 Composition of the Board of Stewards — The Board of Stewards shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members, to be appointed by the PHILRACOM. A majority vote of the Stewards shall be necessary for a valid act, ruling or decision of the Board. The reason for any dissenting vote shall be placed on record and duly reported. In case of incapability of the Chairman or any member during a particular racing day, the PHILRACOM shall designate any or all of the cadet Stewards to fill up the vacancy.
SECTION 4.1 Qualifications — A Steward shall be of legal age, of good moral character, with at least two (2) years of college education, physically and mentally fit, have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM and obtained from the same the corresponding license.
SECTION 4.2 Compensation — The compensation of the Stewards shall be for the account of the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 4.3 Stewards Cannot Be Handicappers — Stewards cannot be Handicappers but may act as Judges in the event of the temporary incapacity of the latter, provided they are so separately licensed as such.
SECTION 4.4 Stewards in Session — The Board of Stewards shall remain in session and shall not adjourn until its report on the conduct of horse races held in a Racing Club shall have been submitted to the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 4.5Powers and Duties of Stewards — The Board of Stewards shall have the following powers and duties:
a. to control the opening and closing of ticket sales for every race;
b. to give the starter the order to start the race;
c. to investigate and decide all incidents related to the conduct of the races;
d. to annul any race before the horses have reached the finish line where by reason of a bad start or other incidents such action is necessary;
e. except in summary proceedings, to observe due process, to apply, impose and enforce the penalties provided herein against erring jockeys, trainers, horse owners and their horses, track officials and employees, and other persons who in any way perform duties connected with horse racing, subject to these rules and regulations;
f. to have free access to all stands, weighing rooms, enclosures, paddocks, and other places within the grounds of the Racing Clubs;
g. to exclude or expel from all places under its control any person who is warned or ruled off, and to inform the club of the Board’s decision;
h. to regulate the conduct of all owners, trainers, jockeys, and their helpers, grooms, and other persons attendant on the horses as well as any person, including officials or employees of the Racing Clubs who are under the influence of alcoholic drinks or drugs and his conduct becomes unruly.
i. to submit to the PHILRACOM, through the Racing Manager, a written report on the conduct of the races held and the unusual incidents therein during the first non-racing day thereafter, unless for serious reasons more time is needed, in which case the PHILRACOM shall determine the deadline for submission of said report;
j. to disqualify any winning horse or placer in accordance with Section 59.0 and 59.1 of rules on disqualification or for lack of weight, in its stead, to declare as winner or placer the horse occupying the next position at the finish post and qualifies;
k. to order the club veterinarian to extract blood, saliva, or urine from any racehorse for drug detection upon directive from the PHILRACOM or if in its opinion the horse concerned might have been drugged with depressant/s or injected with stimulant/s;
l. to order the cancellation of races if warranted. In the regular daily double where several horses are withdrawn from a race leaving only two (2) horses or starters and the race is cancelled by the racing club due to deliberate acts or negligence of its officials, the latter shall indemnify the owners of the remaining horse in the amount of P1 ,000.00 for each horse.
The Racing Club, in turn, may demand from the owners of the horses withdrawn without justifiable cause, as determined by the same, for reimbursement of the amounts paid by the Club to the owners of the entries. In the event reimbursement by the owners concerned is not made within two (2) weeks, the horses withdrawn shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months.
Whenever a start is cancelled by the Board of Stewards, the PHILRACOM shall investigate the racing club concerned and if found guilty, the club shall be penalized by a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1 ,000.00) per horse in the said race.
m. to correctly interpret and enforce all these rules and regulations.
SECTION 4.6 Cadet Steward/s — There shall be Cadet Steward/s whose functions and duties shall be as follows:
a. to sit with the Board of Stewards during racing days and assist in the conduct of race meetings;
b. to exercise all the powers, duties and authorities conferred upon the Stewards by the Rules;
c. to take part in the deliberation of the Board of Stewards but shall not be entitled to a vote except when acting in the place of a Commission Steward who is absent or is unable to perform as such;
d. to represent and act as an extension of the Board of Stewards in the field or at any point within the premises of the Racing Clubs, to observe, investigate or conduct inspection whenever called upon by the Board to do so or whenever the circumstance so warrants; and
e. to perform such other functions which may be required of him by the Commission.
SECTION 4.7 Stewards' Attire — While in the exercise of their official functions, the Stewards must be properly attired by wearing either barong tagalog, shirt and tie, or polo barong.
SECTION 4.8 Finality of Penalty Meted by Stewards — Any penalty or punishment meted out by the Racing Stewards cannot be reconsidered by them after the log book has been signed.
SECTION 4.9 Penalty for Stewards — For failure to comply with the provisions of these rule and regulations, orders, resolutions, or decisions of the PHILRACOM, or for gross incompetence, bias, or negligence in the performance of his duties, a Steward shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding One Thousand Pesos (P1 ,000.00), and, at the discretion of the PHILRACOM by the suspension or revocation of is license.
SECTION 5. PHILRACOM Veterinarians — There shall be at least one PHILRACOM veterinarian who shall have the following duties:
a. to make a physical examination of racehorses and determine whether or not such horses are suffering from any defect which incapacitates them from taking part in the races for which they are declared;
b. to observe during race days whether or not horses are inspected properly by the Club Veterinarian before a race to determine their soundness and physical fitness, and to make an ocular inspection on the entries after their running and report on his findings thereof, if any;
c. to state when required, his concurrence with the recommendation of the club veterinarian, based on his own similar findings that a horse is unfit to race, hence the recommendation of the said veterinarian for its withdrawal at any time before the start of the running and/or submit a certification to that effect;
d. to attend and supervise the measurement and acceptance of racehorses;
e. to have charge and supervision of the “school for vicious horses” together with the starter;
f. to be at the starting gate with the club veterinarian and observe the entries thereat in order that if a horse is claimed by its rider to be defective, a decision can be rendered immediately after examination thereof without causing a delay to the start of the race;
g. upon the establishment of a complete laboratory by the clubs within one year upon approval of the rules, to prescribe any laboratory test which is deemed necessary for a racehorse ;
h. to disqualify novato horses which are blind in both eyes, or afflicted with moonblindness or suffering from infectious diseases;
i. to report to the PHILRACOM and to the Board of Stewards any irregularity, anomaly, or infraction discovered by him.
SECTION 6. PHILRACOM Physician — There shall be a licensed PHILRACOM Physician who shall have the following duties:
a. to certify as to the physical fitness of all licensees of the PHILRACOM;
b. to certify as to the physical fitness of jockeys in their required semi-annual physical examination;
c. to issue medical clearance for anyone as required by the PHILRACOM;
d. to supervise and certify that adequate first aid facilities and equipments are provided for in the clinics of all Racing Clubs during any race day; and
e. to assist the Club physician in any and all emergency cases that may occur during a race day.
SECTION 7. PHILRACOM Racing Official — There shall be a Racing Official of the PHILRACOM whose duties and functions shall be:
a. to have supervision and control over the PHILRACOM personnel assigned to the race track and see to it that their duties are faithfully complied with;
b. to attend all races and watch the events and report to the Board of Stewards and to the PHILRACOM any anomaly, irregularity, or infraction of the rules committed therein;
c. to render report, in writing, to the PHILRACOM on the results of each race together with any incident thereof and irregularity or infraction of the rules and regulations by jockeys, trainers, horse owners, and other personnel of the Club and such occurrences noted during the day, with written recommendation in connection with the action taken by the Stewards on what has been reported to them;
d. to act as a member of the Board of Judges in case of incapacity of any of its members;
e. to perform such other duties which the PHILRACOM may assign to him from time to time.
SECTION 8. PHILRACOM Handicappers — There shall be PHILRACOM Handicappers whose duties shall be:
a. to attend the meetings of Handicapping Committee and to contribute his knowledge of handicapping in said meeting;
b. to attend and supervise the drawing of lots pertaining to the number of horses with the scheduling of races in the racing club concerned;
c. to report and recommend to the PHILRACOM any other matters regarding handicapping;
d. to screen all horses and jockeys participating in scheduled races;
e. to keep a complete record of each racehorse indicating its name, sex, color/s, age, height, marks, owner, and trainer, its performance after every race together with the weight and classification of the jockey who rode it, and the kind of course run, the distance of the race, the time negotiated, place and manner of its arrival at the finish line, its characteristics, vices or traits, and such other data or information necessary to determine its strength, ability and performance;
f. to perform such other duties which the PHILRACOM may assign from time to time.
SECTION 9. Field Racing Inspectors — The PHILRACOM shall appoint the necessary field racing inspectors to watch the events during each race day.
They shall be assigned at different places of the race track. It shall be their duty to implement the assignment given to them by the Racing Official and submit the necessary reports.
CHAPTER II
Racing Clubs: Their Officials,
Qualifications, Duties and Powers
SECTION 10. Club License to Hold Races — Racing Clubs shall not be permitted to hold any race without first securing a license from the PHILRACOM or permit to hold the same.
SECTION 11. Club Rules and Regulations — Racing Clubs shall promulgate their own internal rules and regulations provided that the same do not conflict with any law, decree, ordinance, or these rules and regulations; Provided further, that they shall be submitted to the PHILRACOM for approval before enforcing them and provided that these rules and regulations shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation. Failure to comply with this requirement shall be a ground for the revocation or suspension of the license to operate.
SECTION 12. What Clubs Should Provide — Racing Clubs shall provide themselves with the following:
a. adequate and well-maintained race tracks and grandstands;
b. adequate starting facilities for horse races;
c. starting gate, available for all registered horses on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. or any day as the PHILRACOM may require together with the necessary personnel, to assist horses properly, in order to facilitate the schooling of horses.
For this purpose, all racehorses duly registered with the PHILRACOM shall not be deprived of the use of the club track, starting gate, and other necessary facilities and personnel. In addition to the above, the use of the club track, starting gate, and other facilities and personnel should be made at the prescribed period promulgated by the PHILRACOM and/or the club concerned.
d. a race track, which shall be open for workouts form 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on non-racing days. However, when week-end races are to be held in the racing club concerned, they shall be opened from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. only during the above mentioned days and their track shall be cleared of all obstacles such as Pie de Gallo, track diggings, or anything that will constitute danger to the life and limb of jockeys, exercise boys, and horses and in order for the racing club to make the necessary inspection and repair/s (if any) for the day’s races;
e. electric or electronic computers for registration of bets and the computation of the odds or dividends;
f. photo finish devices to determine arrival of horses at the finish line;
g. adequate weighing machines for jockeys and horses;
h. devices for measurement of horses;
i. modern centralized communication, sound systems and loud speakers;
j. photo patrol equipment and video tape recorders;
k. well-equipped jockeys’ quarters with canteen and relaxation equipments;
l. sirens and other devices to announce annulment of races;
m. bulletin boards, conspicuously located to indicate sale of tickets, betting odds or dividends and other pertinent announcements;
n. saddling enclosures or paddocks for horses participating in the races;
o. well-equipped emergency medical clinic and ambulance;
p. such other facilities, devices, instruments, and equipment required by law or as the PHILRACOM may require from time to time in order to raise public confidence in the sport and to minimize infractions of the rules and regulations of racing.
SECTION 13. Condition of the Race tracks and Grandstands — The Racing Clubs shall see to it that the race track and grandstands are always in good and safe condition. If the race track in a particular club is physically deteriorated so much so that it endangers the safety and lives of jockeys and participating horses, or if any of its grandstands appears patently dangerous for the occupancy of the racing public, the PHILRACOM may temporarily suspend racing in that club and order its temporary transfer to the other club until such time as the race track or grandstand is renovated and placed in good and safe condition.
SECTION 14. Electronic Computer (Betting Odds) — The electronic computer is an automatic betting machine which divides the total stake money, less certain deductions as per law or decree.
SECTION 15. Power Failure or Unforeseen Incident — In case of power failure or unforeseen incident and the electronic computer fails to function, the Board of Stewards shall determine the time for the closing of the sale of tickets, and the signal to start the race shall not be given by the Board until after the sum/total of tickets sold on each horse has been posted on the bulletin board exposed to the public and announced through the public address system.
SECTION 16. Communication System — There shall be a modern centralized communication system controlled by the Board of Stewards connecting to all outposts, towers, electronic computers, ticket sales division, PHILRACOM box, starting gate, public announcer, clinic, jockeys’ quarters, and the saddling paddock.
SECTION 17. List of Jockeys and Horses — Racing Clubs shall keep a complete list of all licensed jockeys and of all horses running in their tracks, together with the names of their respective owners and trainers. All of the above mentioned must be duly filed with the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 18. Club Officials and Personnel — Racing Clubs shall have the following officials and personnel:
a. Racing Manager and Assistant Racing Manager
b. Racing Judges
c. Paddock Stewards
d. Racing Handicappers
e. Superintendents/Supervisors
f. Veterinarians
g. Starters and their Apprentices
h. Clockers
i. Clerks of Scales ( Weighers)
j. Physicians and nurses
k. Security Personnel (Riot Squad)
l. Outrider
m. Race Callers
n. Starting gate helpers
o. Farriers
p. and all other personnel as are necessary to the proper conduct of the races, all of whom shall be duly licensed and registered with the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 19. Racing Manager — The Racing Manager shall be of legal age, of good moral character, have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM, and have obtained from the same the required license.
SECTION 20. Racing Manager’s Duties — The Racing Manager shall be the Official-In-Charge of the preparation, scheduling, and holding of races, as determined and approved by the PHILRACOM.
It shall be his duty to see to it that no suspended jockey/s or any disqualified horse/s takes part in the races, and that every race shall be run as scheduled. It shall also be his duty to see to it that persons banned by PHILRACOM shall not be admitted within the club premises.
The proper conduct and behavior of the employees of the racing club at all times shall be one of his primary duties and responsibilities.
He shall also take care and be responsible for any change in the racing program before the first race of the day.
The Racing Manager shall assure to the PHILRACOM that the following are kept and maintained in good and safe condition:
a. Race track and grandstands;
b. Starting facilities;
c. Photo finish devices;
d. Weighing machines;
e. Modern centralized communication, sound systems and loud speakers;
f. sirens;
g. photo patrol equipment or video tapes;
h. electronic computers;
i. Clinic and two (2) ambulances with two (2) paramedics;
j. saddling paddocks; and
k. jockeys’ quarters.
For such purpose, the Racing Manager shall have supervision over all race facilities and devices.
Before the start of the first race of the day, the Racing Manager, or in his absence, the Assistant Racing Manager, shall see to it that all equipment, facilities, and other requirements have been fully examined and are found to be in good condition. The racing manager will thereafter issue his certification that all the equipment, facilities, and other requirements are in good condition, per his visual examination.
SECTION 20.0 Racing Manager's Disqualification — The Racing Manager is disqualified from acting as a Steward, Judge, or Handicapper.
SECTION 20.1 Penalty for Racing Manager — For failure to comply with the provision of these rules and regulations, or for any misrepresentation and false certification, the Racing Manager shall be punished by a fine not less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50 ,000.00) and/or by the suspension or revocation of his license.
SECTION 20.2 Assistant Racing Manager — The Assistant Racing Manager shall be of legal age, of good moral character, have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM and have obtained from the same the required license.
SECTION 20.3 Duties of Assistant Racing Manager — The Assistant Racing Manager shall assist the Racing Manager in the exercise of his duties. In the event of the temporary or permanent incapacity of the Racing Manager, he shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the same.
SECTION 21. Racing Judges — Judges shall be of legal age, of good moral character, physically fit as certified by PHILRACOM physician, shall have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM, and obtained from the same the corresponding license.
SECTION 22.0 Disqualification of Racing Judges — Judges are disqualified from acting as Steward unless they are so separately licensed. They shall not also act as Handicappers.
SECTION 22.1 Board of Judges — On every racing day, there shall be a Board of Judges composed of a Chairman and two (2) members, all of whom shall be appointed and whose compensation shall be paid by the Racing Club concerned, from among those licensed by the PHILRACOM. In the event of the temporary incapacity of any of its members, the PHILRACOM (Chief) Racing Officer, or any other licensed judges shall fill in and assume the duties and responsibilities of the same.
SECTION 22.2 Duties of the Board of Judges — The Board of Judges shall determine and decide the win (1st place), the place (2nd place) and show (3rd place) horses, and the subsequent places of other horses where such placing is warranted. In every race, however, the decision of the Board of Judges shall be subject to confirmation by the Board of Stewards. It shall be the duty of the Board of Judges to submit its decision to the Board of Stewards in each and every race for confirmation. In the event that the Board of Stewards disagrees with the findings of the judges, the decision of the former shall prevail.
In determining the winners, the Board shall take into account the position of the noses of the horses at the time they reach the finish line. If necessary, the photograph of the arrival (photo finish) of the horses shall be consulted as an aid in determining the results of the race. If the Board of Judges decides for a photo finish and for any reason, no photograph is available or the same is unclear, the Board shall declare a deadheat.
It shall be the duty of the Racing Club to take a photograph (photo finish) of the arrivals of the horses from first to AT LEAST fourth place in each race.
SECTION 23. Paddock Stewards — During racing days, there shall be at least two (2) licensed Paddock Stewards who shall be the Officer-in-Charge of the Saddling Paddock.
SECTION 23.0 Qualifications of Paddock Stewards — A Paddock Steward shall be of legal age, of good moral character, one who has passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM and obtained from the same the corresponding license.
SECTION 23.1 Duties of Paddock Steward — The Paddock Steward shall have the following duties:
a. to enforce all the rules governing the saddling paddock and report to the Board of Stewards any violation of said rules and irregularities that may be committed therein together with his recommendation;
b. to inspect the horses in the saddling paddock, and to see to it that they are equipped with the approved standard equipment;
c. to exclude any person not authorized to be present therein;
d. to supervise and control the behavior, appearance, and activities of owners, trainers, jockeys, jockeys’ helpers, and grooms who are accompanying participating horses;
e. to perform any other duties which the PHILRACOM or the Board of Stewards may assign to him from time to time.
SECTION 23.2 Disqualification of Paddock Stewards — A Paddock Steward cannot act as Handicapper. He cannot also act as Judge or Steward, unless he is separately licensed as such, but only in the event of temporary incapacity of a judge or steward.
SECTION 23.3 Penalty for Paddock Steward — For failure to comply with the provisions of these rules and regulations, or with the orders, resolutions, or decisions of the PHILRACOM or the Board of Stewards, and for imprudence or negligence in the performance of his duties, a Paddock Steward shall be penalized by a fine not exceeding P200.00 and/or by the suspension or revocation of his license.
SECTION 24. Club Handicappers — Handicappers shall be of legal age, of good moral character, have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM and have obtained from the same the corresponding license.
SECTION 24.0 Handicapping — The handicapping of horses for races held in duly licensed Racing Clubs shall be prepared by the Club’s official handicappers subject to PHILRACOM's approval. For this purpose, each Racing Club must have at least one (1) licensed Handicapper.
SECTION 24.1 Duties of Club Handicappers — The Handicappers shall have the following duties:
a. to be present during race days from the start of the first race to the end of the last race;
b. to keep a complete record of each racehorse indicating its name, sex color/s, age, height, marks, owner, and trainer, its performance after every race together with the weight and classification of the jockey who rode it, and the kind of course ran, the distance of the race, the time negotiated, place and manner of its arrival at the finish line, its characteristics, vices or traits, and such other data or information necessary to determine its strength, ability, performance and other disability;
c. to prepare the racing programs for the succeeding race days such that the draft thereof is complete immediately after the end of the race day;
d. to meet at the racing club concerned or at the PHILRACOM office on the following weekend races and on the day following holidays races or on such time and day as the PHILRACOM may designate for the purpose of preparing the final race program;
e. to explain when required by the PHILRACOM any change made in the race program;
f. to furnish the Racing Club concerned with the list of horses and jockeys under suspension or any other disability.
SECTION 24.2 Meetings of Handicapping Committee — In the meetings of the Handicapping Committee the PHILRACOM may allow duly accredited representatives of horse owners or trainers to attend and to take part in the deliberation, and shall be allowed to vote. One or two apprentice handicappers, appointed by each Racing Club, may also be permitted to attend to observe how horses are handicapped and what skills and requisites are needed for handicapping.
SECTION 25. Apprentice Handicappers' License/Permit — The PHILRACOM shall not issue any license as handicapper to any apprentice unless he secures a certificate from the handicappers concerned stating that he has undergone a period of apprenticeship of not less than one (1) year and that he is duly qualified to act as handicapper.
SECTION 26. Club Superintendents/Supervisors — Superintendents/Supervisors shall be Filipino citizens, of legal age and of good moral character with sufficient experience in management of the sale of tickets and who shall be duly registered and licensed by the Racing Manager with the PHILRACOM:
SECTION 26.0 Superintendent/Supervisors' Assignment — There shall be a Superintendent/Supervisor in each of the departments for the sale of tickets for Pari-mutuel, Daily double, Forecast, Llave, Jackpot, Winner-Take-All, Quartet, and other betting schemes provided the PHILRACOM in regular races and special racing events.
SECTION 26.1 Powers and Duties of Superintendents/Supervisors — Superintendents/Supervisors shall have the following powers and duties and shall act under the responsibility of the Racing Manager or the Assistant Racing Manager who shall be duly registered and licensed by the PHILRACOM:
a. to have absolute control and responsibility over all tickets to be sold during the day in his department;
b. to supervise strictly the sale of tickets not permitting the tellers or other persons to buy tickets for themselves or other persons within the compartment where such tickets are sold or the return of tickets already sold;
c. to refuse in his department any person not officially connected with the same unless expressly permitted in writing by the PHILRACOM or the Racing Club concerned; and
d. to report immediately to the Racing Manager who in turn will inform the PHILRACOM or its duly authorized representative any irregularity or anomaly in the sale of tickets.
SECTION 27. Club Starter — There shall be racing starters, who shall be employees of the club, and they shall have the following duties and functions:
a. to start the race given the order to do so by the Board of Stewards and see to it that every horse is in the place assigned to it;
b. to recommend to the Board of Stewards the exclusion from the race of any horse which shows obstinate hostility or which being vicious, is an obstacle to a good start, or which delays the start unnecessarily, as well as their schooling;
c. to supervise together with the PHILRACOM veterinarian the "schooling" of vicious horses;
d. to make actual test of the starting barrier immediately before the entries reach it;
e. to recommend to the Board of Stewards the punishment of jockeys and starting gate helpers for insubordination or disobedience to their orders;
f. to signal or notify immediately the Board of Stewards in case of a false start or any untoward incident for the annulment of the start;
g. to give all orders necessary for securing or effecting a good start;
h. to faithfully keep a logbook of all the traits and characteristics of every horse particularly their behaviour at the starting gate; and
i. to perform such other acts as may be required by the PHILRACOM from time to time.
SECTION 28. Club Apprentice Starters During Race Days — Racing Clubs are authorized to appoint one or two apprentice starters who shall be allowed by the PHILRACOM to be with the starters during race days and training days to observe closely how starts are effected and what measures could be adopted for a good start.
SECTION 29. Apprentice Starter; License/Permit — The PHILRACOM shall issue a starter’s license to an apprentice only if the latter secures from the Racing Club concerned a certificate stating that he has undergone apprenticeship for at least one (1) year and that he is duly qualified to act as starter.
SECTION 30. Club Veterinarian — Every club shall have at least two (2) veterinarians duly authorized to practice their profession and experience in the treatment of diseases and injuries of racehorses, and licensed by the PHILRACOM. They shall have the following duties and functions:
a. to be present at the race track during racing days from the start of the first race up to the last race of the day;
b. to inspect the horses in the saddling enclosures or paddock prior to the race and to determine their soundness or fitness to participate in said race immediately informing the PHILRACOM veterinarians and the Board of Stewards any unsound or unfit horse so that proper measures may be taken thereon;
c. to render immediate assistance during an emergency to a racehorse in distress in the race track. However, in the absence of the owner of his representative then the veterinarians are authorized to do the necessary steps to prevent further suffering of the horse;
d. to order, with the concurrence of the PHILRACOM veterinarian, the removal of racing plates or any other equipment which in their opinion is unsuitable, unsafe or ineffective and recommend to punish any person responsible for the use of the same;
e. to recommend to the PHILRACOM veterinarian and to the Board of Stewards, the immediate destruction of any racehorse which meets with an accident during the course of the race in order to avoid further suffering of the animal.
The owner or trainer shall be paged three (3) times on the public address system. Failure of either of them to respond to the call shall cause the implementation of the foregoing measures.
f. to subject a horse for examination and investigation, if in his opinion, with the concurrence of the PHILRACOM veterinarian the same is under the influence of drug/s or stimulant/s.
He shall immediately report the findings and his recommendation to the PHILRACOM veterinarian and to the Board of Stewards; and
g. to perform such other acts connected with or related to his office as may be required by the PHILRACOM or Racing Club.
SECTION 31. Clockers — A Clocker shall be a Filipino citizen, of legal age, and good moral character with sufficient experience in the work of timing and running of racehorses, and have obtained from the PHILRACOM the corresponding license.
SECTION 31.0 Duties and Functions of Clocker — A Racing Club shall have at least one (1) Clocker, with the following duties and functions:
a. to measure the passage of time negotiated by the horse from the start to the finish of every race, and to report the same immediately to the Board of Stewards;
b. to keep a record of the time registered in every race; and
c. to perform such other acts as may be required by the PHILRACOM or the Racing Club.
SECTION 32. Clerk of Scales — A Racing Club shall have at least two (2) Clerks of Scales who shall be Filipino citizens, of legal age, and good moral character, with sufficient experience in operating the scales and weighing jockeys, and who have obtained from the PHILRACOM the corresponding license.
SECTION 32.0 Duties and Functions of the Clerk of Scales — The Clerk of Scales shall have the following duties and functions:
a. to take, read, and record before and immediately after the race, the weight of each jockey who participates therein, and to report to the Board of Stewards the results of the same, including the names of the jockeys who have been declared to ride in the race but who have not been weighed;
b. to observe the following procedure in the weighing of jockeys:
1. jockeys participating in morning races (Race 1-8) shall be weighed before 9:00 a.m. or one hour before the start of the first race; jockeys participating in the afternoon races (starting race #9) shall be weighed before 1:00 p.m.; and 4:00 p.m., if its night racing.
2. In the weigh-out (before the race) the clerk shall weigh the jockeys with their riding pants, boots, and racing colors, excluding the whip and helmets;
3. In the weigh-in (after the race) the clerk shall weigh again all the jockeys with their riding paraphernalia (horse-shoes, helmet, and whip excluded), and they shall not leave the weighing machine or scales until their weights are verified;
4. The clerk shall also weigh the jockeys at any other time when required to do so by the PHILRACOM or the Board of Stewards;
c. to report to the Board of Stewards any discrepancy in the weight of the jockey.
SECTION 33. Club Physician and Nurse — A Racing Club shall have at least one (1) Physician and one (1) Nurse duly authorized to practice their professions, registered with the PHILRACOM, and who shall have the following duties and functions:
a. to be present at the medical clinic during race days and to see to it that the same is well-equipped to handle emergency treatment of sickness and injuries of persons; which clinic shall be subject to periodic inspection by the PHILRACOM or its representative;
b. to render a report and immediate assistance to jockeys and other persons in distress within the compound and premises of the Racing Club on racing days; and
c. to perform such other acts connected or related to their positions as may be required by the PHILRACOM or the Racing Club.
SECTION 34. Club Starting Gate Helpers; Their Duties — The Racing Club shall have starting gate helpers during racing days who shall be registered with the PHILRACOM for accreditation. They shall assist in the loading of the entries in the respective compartments of the starting barrier to effect for each entry a proper and timely start in the race.
Starting gate helpers shall be thoroughly knowledgeable in the correct handling and managing of racehorses at the starting apparatus or must have undergone a seminar or training courses on the subject matter and qualified. They shall be under the direct supervision of the Starter.
SECTION 34.0 Farriers or Blacksmiths—A farrier or blacksmith is one who does the shoeing, trimming, and repair work on the hoofs and plates of racehorses.
A Racing Club shall have at least one (1) farrier or blacksmith, duly registered with the PHILRACOM, who shall have the following duties and functions:
a. to be present at the saddling enclosure or paddock during racing days, for the purpose of rendering proper and immediate assistance to horses requiring simple remedial attention. If the Club and the PHILRACOM veterinarians determine that extensive work or service is required, the same shall be performed at the expense of the horse owner or trainer and upon the latter's consent.
For such purpose, the Racing Club shall provide all the necessary tools and paraphernalia such as shoes or plates, shoe nails, etc.
b. to be present at the starting gate during racing days and to render proper and immediate assistance to horses thereat in an emergency, when directed to do so by the starter.
CHAPTER III
Owners, Trainers, Jockeys, Apprentice
Jockeys, Student Jockeys, Exercise
Riders, and Grooms
SECTION 35. Horse Owner — A horse owner is a person in whose name the certificate of ownership or transfer certificate of a racehorseis registered. The term “person” shall include a natural person, a partnership or a corporate entity. It also means any person who holds, in whole or in part, any right, title, or interest in a horse, or any lessee of a horse, who has been duly issued a currently valid owner’s license as the person responsible for such horse.
SECTION 35.1 Leasing Equivalent to Ownership — Horses may be leased provided the contract is registered with the PHILRACOM to be binding on third parties.
All the rights, obligations, responsibilities and liabilities of a horse owner shall be enjoyed and shouldered by the lessee as if he was the owner of the horse himself.
Horses owned by the lessee and the horses leased by him shall be considered as coupled entries.
SECTION 36. Qualifications of New Horse Owners — Any person desirous to own a racehorse or racehorses to participate in the races, shall comply with the following requirements —
- Aged 21 years or over:
1. Must have the capacity to enter into a contract;
2. Must have the financial ability/capacity to maintain a racehorse; he must submit to the PHILRACOM his income tax return for the last three years immediately preceding the application for registration and/or proof of financial capability;
3. Must be of good moral character and recommended by any person registered and licensed by the PHILRACOM.
4. If a foreigner, same qualifications provided that the PHILRACOM may require other documents in support of the above named qualifications.
- Aged below 21 years:
1. Daughter or son of Licensed Owner: Provided such parent or legal guardian files an undertaking whereby such parent or legal guardian assures responsibility for meeting all financial, contractual, or other obligations relating to racing of such applicant’s son/daughter or ward;
2. Ward vis-a-vis legal guardian:
- Full ownership disclosure: If a horse is owned by several persons other than the applicant, the latter has to disclose the identity of all other persons who have any legal or equitable interest in the horse.
- Leases: Horses may be raced under lease provided the lease agreement is annexed to the horse’s registration certificate and is approved by the PHILRACOM. Validity of a lease for the purpose of racing a horse may be suspended temporarily or voided by the PHILRACOM at any time. No lease may be approved by the PHILRACOM for racing purposes unless:
1. Lessee is licensed as an owner;
2. Each of the signatures of the lessors on the lease agreement is subscribed and sworn to before a notary public;
3. Term of the lease is no less than one (1) year, unless sooner terminated by claim, or retirement of subject horse/s;
4. Conditions of the lease specify, as to parties to the lease, whether the subject horse can be entered in a race to be claimed. If agreeable to lessor that the subject horse may be entered to be claimed, conditions of the lease must specify the minimum prize for which the subject horse can be entered, and the name of the payee of claiming prize;
5. Conditions of the lease specify that upon the claim of subject horse the lease shall terminate and all rights in and to such horse shall pass to claimant as a bonafide purchase
6. After reviewing the full ownership of such leased horses, and the interest of all persons involved in such lease, the PHILRACOM finds that such lease:
a. completely divests lessors or sub- lessors of further control or direction of the racing performance of such horse while under lease; and
b. the resultant program-listing of lease would not mislead the betting public by reason of the absence in the program-listing of the name of a person or persons possessing a beneficial interest in such leased horse.
- Spouses: A wife may apply if she can prove that she is financially capable and the requirements are the same as the above qualifications of the minors/legal age person.
- In case of ownership by a corporation: There shall be a full disclosure of identity of Directors and Principal Stockholders.
SECTION 37. Compensation Paid by Owner — The owner of a horse shall pay as compensation to his trainer a minimum of nine percent (9%) and to his jockey a minimum of twelve percent (12%) of the prize awarded to his horse in an ordinary race.
For unplaced horses, the owner shall compensate his jockey a minimum riding fee of P100.00 per race.
The amount of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) being received at present by losing jockeys shall continue to be computed and paid according to the present practice or in accordance with the approved resolution of the PHILRACOM. The additional Thirty Pesos (P30.00) to make a total of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) per riding fee shall be paid from the Jockeys’ Fund.
After every racing day, the Racing Club concerned shall make and submit a report to the Commission, with the necessary details, on the amount of riding fees disbursed and charged against the Jockeys’ Fund.
SECTION 38. Transfer by the Owner or Trainer of his Horse — Any owner or trainer desiring to transfer his horse or horses to another trainer shall pay a transfer fee of P20.00 for each horse so transferred. The trainer to whose stable said horse or horses are to be transferred shall be subsidiarily liable in default of the owner. All transfers shall be immediately reported in writing to the PHILRACOM by the new trainer within seventy two (72) hours after the transfer.
Late notice of transfer or transfer made after seventy-two (72) hours shall be penalized.
SECTION 38.1 Report of an Owner/Trainer on His Horse — An owner/trainer shall report to the PHILRACOM in writing any horse in his stable that has been newly acquired, that has died, or has been disposed of within seventy-two (72) hours from the time of occurrence.
Non-compliance with the said rule shall mean a fine of P500.00 or suspension of all horses under his ownership/ trainership for a period of not less than one (1) month.
SECTION 39. Falsification or Concealment of Facts — Any horse owner or trainer who knowingly or willingly falsifies or conceals facts regarding prior racing record, pedigree, identity, or ownership of a registered horse, its true physical condition or whereabouts when it was declared for participation in a race, shall be penalized by a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) and/or by a suspension of not more that two (2) years or revocation of license/permit, without prejudice to criminal prosecution under the applicable laws of Philippines.
SECTION 40. Re-naming a Horse — If for any justifiable reason, the PHILRACOM finds and so holds that a racehorse should be renamed, such naming or change of name shall be in accordance with the provision of the rules thereon of the National Stud Farm.
SECTION 41. Horse Trainer — A trainer is one who is licensed and trains horse/s for an owner/s. He shall be the authorized representative of the horse owner/s and who shall have the authority to appear before the PHILRACOM and the officials of the Racing Clubs.
SECTION 41.0 Qualification of a Trainer — A trainer shall be a Filipino citizen or a full resident, of legal age, of good moral character, who has had sufficient experience in the training of racehorses and who has passed the examinations given by the PHILRACOM and obtained therefrom the corresponding license.
SECTION 41.1 Responsibility of a Trainer — A Trainer shall be responsible for:
a. the declaration of the horse/s under his trainership as qualified and fit to participate in the races;
b. the behavior of the jockey assigned to ride horses under his care and the conformity or willingness of the jockey to ride his horse. In the event that said jockey declared by the trainer refuses to ride his horse on the ground that he did not signify his conformity and did not sign the declaration sheet, the trainer shall be fined Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00);
c. his physical presence during the drawing of lots to determine final entries, whenever his horse is entered to take part in any race, or in his absence, his duly authorized representative, which in the latter case, the authorization must be given in writing;
d. reporting the approved standard equipment to be used by the horse under his trainership; and
e. the trainer or his duly authorized representative (with written authority) should be present at the race track at least two (2) races before his horse runs and at the paddock, to supervise the saddling of his entry/s in any given race, giving such instructions as maybe necessary to assure the best performance of his horse/s.
Failure of the trainer to be present at the track during a race wherein his horse is a participant shall be fined P500.00 per infraction committed.
SECTION 42. Visiting Foreign Jockey's. — A foreign jockey/s who applies to ride in the race tracks of the Philippines may be allowed to do so provided;
1. That he secures the necessary permits and clearances from the Commission on Immigration and Deportation;
2. That he gets the necessary clearances from the country where he has been riding for the past two (2) years and that he is duly licensed to ride;
3. The country of which he is a citizen must by virtue of reciprocity allow Filipino jockeys to ride under the same terms and conditions; and
4. That he/they shall be subject to the Philippine tax law.
SECTION 43. Jockeys — Jockeys are persons who professionally ride horses in races for hire and who must be Filipino citizens, of good moral character and reputation, and obtain the corresponding license from the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 43.0 Jockeys Identified by Full Name — All jockeys shall be identified by full name. The printers of racing programs shall print the full names of the jockeys. In case the full name cannot be fully printed, initials of the first and middle names plus the surnames to sufficiently identify the jockey may be used.
SECTION 44. Student Jockeys — Apprentice student jockeys are those who pursue the study of the proper way of riding racehorses.
No new jockey shall be licensed unless he possesses the following qualifications:
a. Filipino citizen;
b. In case of a minor, he must have the consent of his parents or guardian, but in no case shall he be less than fourteen (14) years of age;
c. of good moral character and reputation;
d. must be at least a high school graduate;
e. must not be more than 158 cms. (5 ft. 2 in.) in height;
f. must not exceed 45 kgs. (100 lbs. in weight);
g. must have passed the examination given by the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 44.0 Training Period of Student Jockeys — Student jockeys shall gallop or work racehorses as part of their training for a period of not less than one (1) year and while in the performance of their work they shall be properly identified.
SECTION 45. Weight Allowance for Apprentice Jockeys for All Kinds of Races Except Stakes Races — The following weight allowance for apprentice jockeys for all kinds of races, except stakes races, shall be strictly observed:
- That an apprentice jockey shall be given four (4) kilograms weight allowance until he has ridden five (5) winning races;
- That after his fifth win, an apprentice jockey shall be given three (3) kilograms weight allowance until he has ridden another twenty (20) winning races;
- That after his 25th win, he shall be given two (2) kilograms weight allowance until he has ridden another fifteen (15) winning races, or totalling forty (40) wins;
- That he be given, after his 40th win, one (1) kilogram weight allowance for a period of one (1) year computed from the date of his 5th winning race. However, all apprentice weight allowance shall discontinue one (1) year after riding his fifth winner regardless of the number of winners he has ridden. He then becomes a journeyman jockey.
An apprentice jockey who has an excess weight of more than 500 grams (1/2 kilo) than the assigned weight shall be disqualified from riding in a race;
- That an extension of the foregoing periods of weight allowance be given accordingly if he is temporarily incapacitated from riding due to injury, illness, compulsory military, or civil service, or any other condition which the Commission deems appropriate;
- All the above provisions shall govern an apprentice jockey while he remains in the active roster and shall also be governed by the same existing rules applicable to journeyman jockey.
Two (2) years after riding his race, an apprentice jockey loses all weight allowances regardless of whether he has won any race;
- No student of the Philippine Jockeys Academy shall become a graduated jockey until after he has ridden forty (40) winning races.
SECTION 46. Medical Examination of Jockeys — All jockeys shall undergo medical examination twice a year, in June and December, to be conducted by physicians designated by the PHILRACOM, and the latter shall be guided by the findings therein in determining the fitness to continue riding racehorses.
SECTION 46.0 Medical Clearance Before Riding Again — Jockeys suspended for twenty (20) racing days or from an accident or an illness shall undergo medical clearance to be conducted by the PHILRACOM physician before being allowed to ride again. This is aside from the regular mid-year medical examination.
SECTION 46.1 Allowing a Suspended Jockey to Ride in a Regular or Stakes Race — A suspended jockey who is already declared in a regular or stakes race at the time of his suspension should take part in the said race or races. His suspension will take effect the day after his declared ride. In case of the stakes race, the period between his date of suspension and the race wherein he was previously declared shall be counted in the computation of his penalty.
SECTION 47. Quartering of Jockeys — Before the first race of the day, all jockeys enlisted to ride on that day shall report to the Clerk of Scales for the purpose of weight-out. Thereafter, at least two (2) races before their scheduled ride, they shall be quartered in a well-equipped jockeys’ quarters set apart from the public.
While inside, they shall not be allowed to communicate with any person except the officials of the PHILRACOM or of the Racing Club. They shall come out of their quarters only to ride in the scheduled race and shall have the opportunity to talk only with the respective owners and trainers of the horses to be ridden by them.
Any jockey who signs in and enters the jockeys’ quarters shall no longer be permitted to leave the premises until he has ridden his scheduled race and is already permitted under the rules to go out of the place.
SECTION 47.0 Executive Use of Jockeys’ Quarters — The jockeys’ quarters shall be exclusively for the jockeys. The Racing Manager of the Club and the authorized personnel of the PHILRACOM may enter the same.
SECTION 48. Number of Rides — A journeyman jockey shall not be allowed to ride more than ten (10) horses in one weekend racing day and not more than seven (7) horses during week day racing (night racing).
The number of rides allowed to an apprentice jockey shall not be more than four (4) per racing day until said apprentice shall have attained his 25th win after which he shall be permitted not more than six (6) rides in one (1) racing day; and then the entitlement of a maximum of ten (10) rides, after making his 40th win.
SECTION 49. Jockeys' Responsibility — A jockey shall be responsible at all times for the behaviour and conduct of the horse from the time he mounts up to the time he dismounts said horse.
He shall also see to it that the owner or trainer concerned is duly informed by him of any suspension or order regarding the horse he rode.
SECTION 49.0 Duty of a Jockey Atop His Horse — A jockey shall take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to win or obtain the best possible placing and must ride his mount to the finish line, without however, unnecessarily punishing his mount.
SECTION 50. Unsaddling by Jockey — Jockeys must themselves unsaddle their mounts after a race and only the groom or jockey’s helper shall assist him in unlatching the surcingle ( sobre cincha) except when the jockey is incapacitated.
SECTION 51. Requirements of a Jockey — Jockeys are required, when taking part in a race:
a. to be attired uniformly in white riding pants, black leather boots, with tan leather upper brim or band and a standard “crash” helmet or skull cap;
b. to use a standard whip which shall not be more than twenty eight (28) inches from tip to tip;
c. to employ cinch ( cincha) and surcingle ( sobre-cincha) with any kind of saddle.
SECTION 52.The Whip — A jockey shall have a whip held and carried in his hand from the time he mounts his horse during the post parade, until after he crosses the finish line.
He shall not tuck the whip in his belt or hip pocket or carry it in any other manner except as herein described.
SECTION 52.0 Saddle — The saddle comprises the saddle itself, the girth, the surcingle, the stirrup irons, and the leathers or webs, and the jockey is responsible for the fitness and serviceable condition of the saddle he uses.
SECTION 52.1 The Blinkers — Blinkers must be worn under the bridle permitting a full, forward and sideways view.
SECTION 53. Substitution of Jockeys — A jockey declared to ride a particular horse cannot be substituted on the racing day except when he is incapacitated by reason of accident or illness, or overweight as certified by the Racing Club physician, Clerk of Scales, respectively, or for justifiable reasons as determined by the Board of Stewards.
Substitution of jockeys is mandatory in case of accident, illness or incapacity of a jockey, occurring at least one race before his scheduled race or in such cases as may be determined by the Board of Stewards taking into account the interest of the betting public and the proper implementation of the rules. Refusal of a jockey without justifiable cause, shall be fined.
Failure or refusal of the owner or trainer to change his jockey and to run his horse without justifiable cause shall subject the horse to a suspension of not less than one (1) month but not exceeding two (2) months.
Failure of the owner, trainer, or his authorized representative to appear before the Board of Stewards for a change of jockey, despite three (3) summons to this effect will vest authority upon said Board to appoint a substitute jockey.
In all cases, substitution must be from the same group, except in the case of an apprentice jockey whose substitution may only be by another apprentice jockey with the same weight allowance.
Nevertheless, no change shall be allowed of a jockey in a given race if the jockey of similar classification who will substitute is a jockey scheduled to ride a horse which has been scratched or withdrawn from the same race.
For this purpose, an apprentice jockey becomes classified after his 40th win.
SECTION 53.1 Waiver — A jockey who is incapable of riding on his first declared ride for the day due to accident; illness, or any fortuitous incident, and consequently he is substituted by another jockey, automatically waives all his declared rides on that racing day.
SECTION 53.2 Change of Jockey in Stakes Race/Change of Equipment of a Horse — Changes of jockeys or equipment such as bits, blinkers, bandages, etc. shall be allowed in all Stakes Races including Sweepstakes races provided the request is made before the first race of the same day for proper dissemination to the betting public.
Jockeys are allowed to ride in a race before the Stakes Race.
In the case of a jockey change however, a written consent of the jockey to be substituted is required.
SECTION 54. Related Jockeys — The following shall not be allowed to ride in the same race:
a. Father and son
b. Brothers
c. Stepfather and son
d. Stepbrothers
The prohibition extends and covers the relationship, whether the same be legitimate or illegitimate. or whether it be full or half blood, or step category, or by affinity.
However, brothers are allowed to compete in the Stakes Races, Sweepstakes, and corporate sponsored races, subject to the condition that all the owners and/or trainers of the participating entries therein agrees in writing.
SECTION 54.0 No Jockeys with Relative’s Horse — No jockey shall be allowed to ride another entry wherein a horse belonging to or owned directly or indirectly by his spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, or any other relative within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, corporation, partnership or other entities wherein a jockey has a financial interest, is also participating in the same race.
SECTION 55. Notice for Substitution — It shall be the duty of the owner or trainer of the horse concerned to notify the Board of Stewards of the substitution of a jockey, which shall then be announced to the public.
SECTION 56. Duty of the Jockey at the Starting Gate — While at the starting barrier, it shall be the duty of the jockey to obey the orders or instructions of the starter.
SECTION 56.0 Dismounting by a Jockey at the Starting Gate — While at the starting gate and waiting for the start of the race, no jockey shall be allowed to dismount or get off his horse unless for justifiable cause and with the express permission of the starter or the Board of Stewards.
SECTION 57. Mandatory Presence of a Jockey or His Authorized Representative During Raffle of Numbers (Drawing of Lots) — The presence of a jockey, or his authorized representative, during the raffle of numbers for finally declared horses, which shall come out in the official printed race programs and wherein he has assigned for or signified his intention to ride, is mandatory.
Violation of this provision shall subject the jockey concerned to penalty as may be determined and imposed by the PHILRACOM after an inquiry.
SECTION 58. Disqualification from Riding — The following jockeys are disqualified from riding in a race:
a. those who are not physically or mentally fit to ride a racehorse ;
b. those who are under the influence of liquor or drugs;
c. those who have excess weight or more than one half (1/2. kilo than the assigned weight;
d. those suffering from any impediment or disability under these rules and regulations; and
e. those who have not signed the declaration forms of the horses they are to ride.
SECTION 59. Other Grounds for Disqualification — In addition to other grounds for disqualification in these rules, a horse shall be disqualified if it or its jockey adversely affects the chance of success of any other horse in a race:
- a. A horse which crosses or weaves in front of another or which by overt act threatens or intimidates so as to impede it, is disqualified, unless the impeded horse was partly or wholly at fault or the crossing or weaving was wholly caused by the fault of some horse or jockey.
b. If a horse or jockey jostles, or threatens by overt act to jostle another horse, the aggressor is disqualified, unless the impeded horse or its jockey was partly or wholly at fault or the jostle was wholly caused by the fault of some horse or jockey. [N.B. To jostle is to bump another horse during the race.]
c. If a jockey strikes, pushes, holds, or otherwise detains another horse or jockey, or rides in such a manner as to prejudice another horse or jockey, which is in no way at fault or so as to cause other horses to do so, or performs any of the aforementioned acts so as to interfere with any other horse’s chance of success, his horse is disqualified.
- The disqualification shall be determined by the Board of Stewards upon the foregoing ground, either motu proprio or on objection made to the Board by the horse owner, trainer, or jockey engaged in the race, before all participating jockeys have weighed in.
The determination of disqualification by the Board shall be done expeditiously. During its pendency, no winner or placer shall be declared, as the case may be.
During the inquiry, appropriate signs or markers conspicuous to the public shall be displayed as well as public announcement made to indicate that such an inquiry is going [on] per complaint... (Identify).
Upon termination of the inquiry, the Board shall declare the official winner and placers which declaration shall be final.
All disqualified horses shall be placed behind the impeded entry, except disqualification of coupled entries which is governed by the following paragraph:
When a horse is disqualified, every entry coupled therewith shall be disqualified if the impeded horse, except for interference, would have arrived at the finish ahead of any of the coupled entries which comes in the money. The disqualification in such case shall operate as follows:
The coupled entry, if it finished in the money and ahead of the impeded horse shall be placed behind that impeded horse. However, if the coupled entry finished in the money handily or convincingly, wherein the elements of “chance of success” cannot apply, then the coupled entry shall still be declared in the money ahead of the impeded horse and the rule of disqualification shall not be enforced. The infraction committed shall be treated as a foul and penalized depending on the gravity of the infraction.
- The decision of the Board of Stewards on disqualification shall be final and in appealable. However, suspensions imposed on the occasion thereof are subject to appeal to the Commission.
- Objections made to the Board cannot be withdrawn without its consent.
The Board may, in its discretion, also determine that the objection lodged with it was frivolous or vexatious, and in such a case may fine the objector in an amount not exceeding one thousand pesos (P1 ,000.00). All fines shall accrue to the PHILRACOM.
- The rules for disqualification shall apply to or cover the entire course of the race from start to finish provided that the following elements are present:
a. There must be an impediment by one entry on another;
b. The impeding horse must have finished in the money; and
c. The impendiment must have adversely affected the chance of success of the impeded horse, i.e., the incident altered the results of the race.
SECTION 59.0 Claim of Interference or Other Fouls — A jockey, trainer, or owner of a horse, who has reasonable grounds to believe that his horse was interfered with or impeded or otherwise hindered during the running of the race, or that any riding rule was violated by any other jockey or horse during the running of the race, may immediately make a claim of interference or foul with the clerk of scales, the Stewards or their delegate before the race has been declared official. The Stewards may thereupon hold an inquiry into the running of the race. No person shall make any claim of interference or foul knowing the same to be inaccurate, false, or untruthful.
SECTION 59.1 Horse To Be Disqualified on Valid Protest — If a protest against a horse which has won or which has placed in any race is declared valid, that horse may be disqualified and the other horses in the race are entitled to place in the order in which they finished. A horse so disqualified is a starter in the said race and may be placed last in the order of finish or behind a horse interfered with.
SECTION 60. Exercise Riders — Exercise riders are those who, not being jockeys or apprentice student jockeys, devote themselves to exercising racehorses on the track of Racing Clubs.
SECTION 60.0 Permit to Exercise Or Gallop a Horse — No person shall be allowed to exercise, work, or gallop a racehorse on the tracks of Racing Clubs unless he secures the permit as an exercise rider or student jockey from the PHILRACOM which shall be granted only upon the favorable recommendations of the Trainers Association and the Jockeys’ Association.
If the person exercising a racehorse is already a licensed jockey or apprentice jockey, no further permit shall be required. A jockey or apprentice jockey under suspension may devote himself to exercising racehorses unless for serious reasons the PHILRACOM determine otherwise.
SECTION 61. Jockeys' Helpers — A helper is a person who assists a jockey in carrying his riding paraphernalia and shall be duly registered with the Racing Clubs and with the PHILRACOM. A jockey shall be allowed one helper if he has a ride of not more than five (5. races and two (2. helpers if he has six rides or more for the day. A jockey shall be held responsible for the behaviour and conduct of his helper/s while on the race track and inside the enclosure.
A jockey who enters the race track with more than two (2) helpers shall be penalized by suspension of two (2) racing days. Unruly behaviour or conduct of the helper shall likewise cause the suspension of the jockey concerned for a period as maybe determined by the Commission.
SECTION 62. Limits of a Jockeys' Helper — A jockey’s helper shall be allowed only in those areas designated by the Racing Clubs. He shall attend to the needs of the jockey. After the jockey has finished riding his last mount for the day, he and his helper/s shall leave said race track without delay.
SECTION 63. Grooms — A groom is a person who tends and devotes himself to the care of racehorse and shall be registered as such with PHILRACOM. A horse should be allowed two (2. grooms only.
The behaviour and conduct of the grooms designated by the horse owner or trainer to bring the horse to and from the race track during racing days shall be their responsibility.
CHAPTER IV
Registration of Racehorse, Horse Owners,
Associations or Federations: Renewal
of Licenses and Registration Fees
SECTION 64. Registration of Horses and Owners — No racehorse shall be allowed to participate in any race unless the same and its owner are registered with the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 65. Procedure for Registration — The application for the registration of a racehorse and its owner/s shall be accomplished and filed with the PHILRACOM at any time during the calendar year and shall contain the following particulars verified in accordance with the corresponding National Stud Farm Certificate by the owner of such horse, or for the owner, in case the registration is made through the trainer or authorized representative:
a. Name of the horse, sex, color, and date of foaling;
b. Name of its sire and dame;
c. National Stud Farm Certificate number and date of issue;
d. Name of its trainer and location of stable where it may be found and inspected;
e. Name, age, address, identification card size picture, and tax account number of the owner; and
f. Favorable recommendation/endorsement from any respectable person known in the horse racing industry.
SECTION 66. Associations or Federations — Associations or Federations or racehorse owners, trainers, jockeys and other segments of the racing industry shall not be recognized unless they are registered with the PHILRACOM. Provided that the PHILRACOM shall only register associations whose members are exclusively for jockeys, for horse trainers or for horse owners, as such, not associations of mixed membership of jockeys, trainers, and owners.
SECTION 66.0 Registration Particulars of an Association or Federation — The application for registration of an association or federation of racehorse owners, trainers, jockeys and other segments of the racing industry shall be accomplished and filed during the month of March of every year and shall contain the following particulars verified under oath by the President and Secretary of the organization:
a. Name and address of the organization;
b. Name of its principal officers and the date of their last election;
c. total membership of good standing.
SECTION 67. Registration Fees — The following are the rates of fees to be paid by licensees and registrants of the PHILRACOM as well as other fees imposed by it:
Racing Manager
SECTION 68. Registry Books and Other Records — The PHILRACOM shall keep and maintain Registry Books and other records for the implementation of this Chapter.
SECTION 69. Renewal of Licenses; Re-registration — Jockeys, horse owners and trainers, racing officials, and other licensees of the PHILRACOM shall renew their respective licenses on or before the last day of the month of January every year. Likewise, all registrants of the PHILRACOM except those already provided for in these rules, shall re-register also within the same aforementioned period.
The rate of fees for each specific license shall be in accordance with the amount prescribed by the PHILRACOM.
In the event that the last day of January is a non-office day, renewal of licenses, or re-registration shall automatically be extended to the next office day.
Failure of licensees to renew their respective licenses and of registrants to re-register shall subject such licensee or registrant to lose the privilege to declare for or take part in the races until renewal or re-registration shall have been faithfully complied with, and/or at the discretion of the PHILRACOM, be penalized by the imposition of an additional 50% of the prescribed registration and/or license fees.
CHAPTER V
Conduct of Races
SECTION 70. Racing License — Unless a racing license or permit is secured from the PHILRACOM, no person, racing club, or any other entity shall hold or conduct any horse racing wherein betting in any form is allowed. Notwithstanding the issuance of such license the same may be suspended or revoked by the PHILRACOM for just cause.
SECTION 70.0 Particulars of a Racing License — A racing license shall specify, among other things, the person, racing club or entity to whom it is issued, the place where the races are to be held or conducted and the day/s on which the races will be held.
SECTION 71. Racing Days — Subject to existing laws or decrees, and in accordance with the calendar of races for a year, previously approved by the PHILRACOM, a person, a racing club, or other entities duly licensed by the PHILRACOM may hold races on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and on legal and official public holidays and on days authorized by it.
SECTION 72. Native Horses — Unless authorized otherwise by the PHILRACOM, only native horses (horses born or foaled in the Philippines) can participate in races held or conducted in this country.
SECTION 73. Eligibility of Entries — A horse, in order to be eligible as an entry:
a. must be two (2) years old from its actual birth;
b. must be registered with the PHILRACOM and National Stud Farm;
c. must be physically fit on the day of measurement;
d. must be free from any contagious disease or illness;
e. must not be suffering from moonblindness, or blindness in both eyes;
f. must not be under the influence of drug/s.
SECTION 74. Acceptance and Measurement — All horses presented for measurement shall be measured with a properly calibrated measuring device duly approved by the Committee concerned with the concurrence of the Commission or its duly authorized representative. All horses registered for measurement shall be presented at the measurement compound not later than fifteen (15) minutes before the actual start of the scheduled measurement and shall be numbered by drawing of lots to determine the order or measurement of the entries. Withdrawal of any numbered entry shall be penalized by a suspension of thirty (30) calendar days starting from the date it was withdrawn.
All horses shall be measured without horseshoes or plates. The measurement shall be taken at the highest part of the withers upon contact with the skin, the horse being in its natural standing position, with the neck in line as much as possible with the body and standing squarely on its four legs (the long axis of the four legs perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other).
During the measurement, from the time the horse has stepped on the measurement platform, no person shall touch the horse except the one permitted to hold its head and the one permitted to arrange its legs to facilitate the proceeding. Further, only the owner or authorized representative shall be allowed to accompany the horse inside the measurement enclosure during the measurement of their entry.
The Chairman of the Committee or in his stead, an officially designated member for the day or measurement, shall take charge of the actual lowering of the measuring lever and the registering of the height on the authorized tape. Another designated member of the Committee for the day shall assist on the opposite side of the measuring device by holding the end of the lever and guiding it until it touches the skin over the highest point of the withers, at which point he shall signal the registration of the official height.
A horse shall be entitled to a single measurement. However, in case of dissatisfaction over the initial measurement of the horse, the owner or his authorized representative may request for an immediate re-measurement while the horse is still on the measurement platform, in accordance with the rules thereon, in which case the horse shall be measured two (2) times more and the average of all three (3) measurements shall be declared the official height. A horse measured, its official height declared and accepted, and which participated in an official race, shall no longer be eligible for measurement for any other race with a height qualification that is lower than its previously accepted official height.
A horse which has been measured and accepted with an officially recorded height shall not be qualified for any measurement until after thirty (30) days from the date it was previously measured and accepted.
A horse shall be measured and the official height determined within a period of fifteen (15) minutes from the time it has entered the measurement platform, otherwise the same shall be disqualified.
Should any horse be suspected by the PHILRACOM or its representative of being drugged, it shall not be measured unless the owner or trainer thereof consents to a trial run at such distance and qualifying time as the official shall determine before its actual measurement.
The use of nose twitch, ear twitch, ear pinchers, tongs, or any similar gadgets or devices to restrain a horse while inside the measurement platform is strictly prohibited at the final instance before measuring is done.
Any protest against the measurement proceeding or its result may be lodged with the Committee concerned by any complainant upon payment of a protest fee in the amount of P500.00 to the PHILRACOM the day immediately after the declaration of the horse concerned, which fee shall be refundable should the complaint be found meritorious following an inquiry.
Cryptorchid (horse with undescended testes) or horses which are blind in one eye can be allowed to qualify to race.
SECTION 74.0 Acceptance and Measurement of Novato Horses — Measurement of horses for a novato race will be done on designated days provided there are at least three (3) horses to be measured.
SECTION 74.1 Measurement of Horses — The following procedures shall govern the measurement of horses, particularly those registered for the Amethyst Championship Junior Division and other races which may hereafter be authorized wherein height measurements are a part of the eligibility:
1. the presentation of registered entries at the measurement compound shall not be later than 9:45 a.m. of the designated day. Any horse not physically present in the measurement compound by the stated time shall not be included in the measurement;
2. Measurement of registered entries shall start promptly at 10:00 a.m., by conducting a lottery to determine the order of measurement;
3. Any entry to be measured shall be allowed only fifteen (15) minutes inside the measurement stall;
4. the use of any instrument (e.g., nose twitch, ear twitch, ear pinchers, etc.) to restrain the horse during the actual measurement is prohibited; and
5. Violation of the above mentioned rules is sufficient to disqualify any registered entry from measurement.
SECTION 75. Inscription of Horses — Horses participating in a regular race shall be inscribed one (1) week before the day of the race (and the last day for such is Friday before the week) or at such time as the PHILRACOM may determine. The official or person designated to receive the inscription papers shall issue receipt therefor and shall deliver such papers to the handicappers on the day following the closing of the inscription.
SECTION 75.0 Inscription Paper — The inscription paper shall contain the names of the registered owner of the inscribed horse and its trainer, and such details as may be required by the PHILRACOM or the racing club.
SECTION 75.1 After Inscription Proceedings — After the inscription proceedings are closed no alteration or change in the inscription paper shall be allowed.
SECTION 75.2 Non-Appearance of Inscribed/Declared Horse in the Race Program — The registered owner of a horse duly inscribed and declared to participate but which does not appear in the racing program and for which reason cannot take part in the scheduled race, shall be compensated by the racing club concerned in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (P2 ,000.00) if caused by negligence of racing officials of the club.
SECTION 75.3 Appearance of a Non-Inscribed Horse in the Program — The trainer of a horse which was accepted for declaration and appears in the racing program but has not been inscribed for the racing week shall, upon verification, be penalized by a fine of P1 ,000.00 or suspension of his license as a trainer for a period of one (1) month.
SECTION 75.4 Refund of Inscription Fee — The inscription fee shall be refunded to the owner or trainer when:
a. the horse has been declared to run and the race is cancelled; or
b. when the inscribed horse does not appear in the racing program and therefore cannot participate in the scheduled race; and
c. when the inscribed horse has been declared but was eliminated due to excess entries.
SECTION 75.5 Only Announced Races Shall Be Held — In case of continuous racing days, only races previously announced in the corresponding " copia" shall be held or conducted by the racing club.
SECTION 76. Number and Tickets — No horse may participate in a race unless it carries a number and tickets are offered for sale on such a horse, except novato horses and horses which are vicious (late starters and refuse to start) at the starting gate.
SECTION 77. Coupled Entries — In special races where there are less than fourteen (14) declared entries in one race, such horses shall be considered as an entry only and paired or coupled in the betting as one horse, so that if any of the said horses wins, the holders of the tickets for the “entry” shall be entitled to a dividend.
In the same manner, horses belonging to husband and wife shall be considered coupled entries and carry one or the same number in the running as explained in the proceeding paragraph.
Coupled entries are allowed to participate in all the Quartet and Winner Take All Events under the following conditions:
1. Any scratch made by the owner or authorized representative or an official of the PHILRACOM, or any of the participating coupled entries, will automatically scratch all his entries;
2. In the Quartet, the best place attained by any of his coupled entries will be the only one considered; and
3. The general rule that, the scratch of one automatically scratches the other, resulting in the scratching of both, does not apply in Stakes Races and where one of the coupled entries is with a number and the other is unnumbered.
The scratched coupled entry however shall be penalized/fined in accordance with the existing rules.
For the purpose of this rule, any race which offers an advertised prize money of P40 ,000.00 or more to the first place shall be considered a stakes race.
SECTION 78. Declaration — The declaration of participating horses shall be signed by the owners, trainers and jockeys or their designated representative to be delivered to the Racing Manager of the club concerned at the following time:
a. For Saturday and Sunday races, on the preceding Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
b. For holiday and other authorized races, on the day and at the time fixed by the PHILRACOM.
The permissible withdrawal of declarations already submitted shall likewise be covered by the above deadline or time limitation.
Drawing of lots shall be held on the day fixed by the PHILRACOM at 1:00 p.m., under the direct supervision of the same or its authorized representative in the presence of the trainer and jockey concerned or their authorized representative.
SECTION 79. Declarations Must Be Signed — In order that a declaration may be considered complete and acceptable, the names of the horse and the corresponding jockey must appear thereon, duly signed by the latter or his duly authorized representative and delivered to the Racing Manager concerned as aforestated, otherwise, the declaration shall not be accepted.
Owners or trainers may demand that their declaration be kept confidential, in which case the Racing Manager shall be responsible for keeping such confidence. The official or person in charge of receiving the declarations shall issue receipts therefore to the owners or trainers.
After the declaration, it shall be incumbent upon the jockey to review and verify from the racing program his name and the horse/s he has been declared to ride seeing to it that such entry or entries are the same that he had signified his conformity to ride in the race and signed therefore. In the event he verified that he had not been signatory or agreeable to ride a particular horse appearing in the racing program with him as jockey, it shall be his duty to report the matter to the Board of Stewards before the opening of the first race of the day.
In such a case, the trainer and/or owner of the horse concerned shall be investigated by the Board of Stewards or the Commission and shall be held liable for the occurrence. Failure on the part of the jockey concerned to bring the matter to the attention of the Board of Stewards within the designated period shall be deemed as his acceptance to ride and subject him to a penalty of at least One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) if he does not show up or appear for the race.
SECTION 79.1 Number of Races — When the number of races resulting from the horses declared for a particular day exceeds those which can be held or conducted on such day, the Racing Manager of the club concerned shall recommend to the PHILRACOM, who shall decide on the matter on the races that would constitute the racing program for that day giving preference to horses or groups of horses of average, above average, and superior quality.
SECTION 80. Official Program — The names of racing officials who are on duty during a racing day shall appear on the racing program. The veracity of the contents of such program shall be the responsibility of the Racing Manager. If there be any change in the designated officials coming from the PHILRACOM, the club must be informed in writing at least a week before a particular race is held.
The official program of a racing club shall state in every race: the classification of the group of horses participating, the distance, the names, and barrier number of the horses, their age, color and sex, the registered horse owners, name of trainer, the name of their jockeys and their racing colors.
SECTION 80.0 Erroneous Weight in the Racing Program — If the handicap weight assigned to the horse is erroneously stated in the racing program, the assigned weight shall be posted by the Racing Manager on bulletin boards visible to the public and announced through the public address system before the race concerned.
SECTION 81. Other Racing Program — In order to protect the racing public from erroneous or misleading information, the PHILRACOM shall issue guidelines to regulate the public of racing programs offered for sale to the public with the primary objective of attaining accuracy in the listing of:
a. the number of races and their distances;
b. the number and names of horses participating in each race;
c. the names of their riders;
d. the handicap weights;
e. the names of the horse owners;
f. the names of the trainers; and
g. the result of previous races.
SECTION 82. Parade and Start of the Race — Upon signal by the Board of Stewards, the horses shall be mounted by their respective jockeys, leave the saddling enclosure or paddock, and parade in numerical order before the judges’ stand on the way to the starting apparatus. Immediately thereafter, the gates shall be closed and the horses shall enter their assigned places without delay. A distinctive marker posted thirty (30) meters away from the starting apparatus shall indicate the boundary beyond which the participating horses cannot cross before the start of the race.
SECTION 83. Difficult Horses — Horses which have difficulty in entering the starting stalls assigned to them shall, at the starter’s discretion, be the first horses directed to enter the same. No suspension shall be imposed on a horse which enters its starting stall within five (5) minutes. Any horse which enters the starting gate after five (5) minutes but within ten (10) minutes shall be suspended indefinitely with barrier trial. Provided that such horses committing a third offense under this Section shall be penalized as second offender under Section 113 of these rules and thereafter the latter Section shall apply.
A horse which does not enter the starting gate after ten (10) minutes from its first attempt shall be scratched from the race and will be given a suspension of ten (10) racing days with barrier trial.
A repetition of the same offense by the same horse in the future shall merit the following suspensions:
2nd offense 20 racing days with barrier trial
3rd offense 40 racing days with barrier trial
4th offense 80 racing days with barrier trial
5th offense banned from racing
Likewise, this rule shall also apply to horses that cause the delay of a race for any reason while already inside their stalls.
The ten minutes shall be reckoned from the first attempt at entering or from the first sign of hostility by the horse while already inside its stall.
Provided further, that for acts committed under this Section, the previous record of the horse shall be considered.
SECTION 84. Malfunction of the Automatic Starting Apparatus — If the automatic apparatus fails to function, the race shall be suspended temporarily for a reasonable and permissible period for repairs as determined by the PHILRACOM and the Board of Stewards.
However, if the necessary repairs will take a considerable length of time in such a way that it will affect and disrupt the schedule of races for that day, the Board of Stewards with the approval of the PHILRACOM shall cancel the rest of the races for that day. If a gate fails to open thereby causing a horse not to start at the same time as the other horses or preventing it from running the race, all bets on said horse shall be refunded. A horse shall be considered a non-starter when its gate or its stall fails to open simultaneously with the other gates of the other stalls.
If a horse breaks out of a gate which refused to open or opens late but still reaches the finish line ahead of the field - 1st position - it shall be declared starter a winner. In the event said horse reaches the finish line in any position other than first, said horse shall be declared as a non-starter.
However, this condition will not hold through for Sweepstakes races which has a different rule on this particular incident. If more than one stall in the starting gate fails to open, the race will be considered a draw and another regular start shall be conducted to continue the race.
SECTION 85. Pari-Mutuel — A form of betting whereby those who bet on the winning horse and on the horses placing second and third share the total taken, less percentages to the management and the government.
SECTION 86. Daily Double — A form of betting in which a bet is made on two (2) horses in separate consecutive regular races. To be entitled to a dividend, both horses must win.
If for any reason, a horse is withdrawn in the second race of the daily double after the first race has been run, the corresponding dividend shall be paid to the holders of tickets on the winning horse in the first race which is paired with the horse withdrawn.
SECTION 87. Forecast — A form of betting in which a bet is made on two (2) horses in the same race. To be entitled to a dividend, both horses must place first and second, respectively, in the precise order reflected in the bet.
SECTION 88. Llave — A form of betting in which a bet is made on two (2) horses in the same race. To be entitled to a dividend, both horses must place either first or second, without regard to the order reflected in the bet.
SECTION 89. Special Jackpot — A form of betting in which a bet is made on three (3) horses in the same race. To be entitled to a dividend, all three horses must place first, second and third, respectively, in the precise order reflected in the bet.
SECTION 90. Quartet — A form of betting in which a bet is made on four (4) horses in the same race. To be entitled to a dividend, all four horses must place first, second, third and fourth, respectively, in the precise order reflected in the bet.
SECTION 90.0 Pick Six Event — It is an event wherein the bettor selects the six (6) winners from the six (6) races of the day as shown in the race program.
SECTION 91. Winner Take All — A form of betting in which a bet is made on seven (7) horses in separate consecutive designated races. To be entitled to a dividend, all the horses must win as reflected in the bet. If no ticket sold reflects a complete seven (7) winners, then the tickets reflecting six (6) winners will be entitled to the corresponding dividends, and so on.
If for any reason a horse which is reflected in the bet is withdrawn, the entry which is the first favorite in the daily double race concerned becomes the horse reflected in said bet.
SECTION 92. Extra Double — A form of betting in which a bet is made on two (2) horses in separately designated regular races. To be entitled to a dividend, both horses must win.
SECTION 93. Quinella Event — A form of betting wherein the bettor selects and bets on two numbers in a single race and the selected numbers must finish "first" and "second" in either order of selection in order to win.
SECTION 94. Double Quinella Event — A racing event wherein the bettor selects and bets on two numbers in each of two consecutive or non-consecutive races and the selected numbers in the two races must finish "first" and "second" in either order of selection in order to win.
SECTION 95. Trifecta Event — A racing event wherein the bettor selects and bets on three numbers in a single race and the selected numbers must finish "first", "second", and "third" in their correct order of selection in order to win.
SECTION 96. Double Bets — Includes bets on daily double and extra double events, and " Quinella bets" includes bets on double quinella event.
SECTION 97. Sales Tickets — The sale of tickets shall begin at the time authorized therefore and shall be closed not later than the opening of the starting gates for the race concerned.
No person shall be allowed to buy tickets inside the ticket booths. Only tickets duly issued shall be sold to the public.
SECTION 98. Horse with No Ticket Sold on It — When a horse without any ticket sold on it wins any of the prizes (first, second, or third), the corresponding dividend shall be paid to the holders of tickets on the horse which finishes next to it and which qualifies. In the Daily Double, Forecast, Llave, Quartet, Winner Take All and Extra Double, as well as other forms of exotic or sophisticated betting, the rules of the racing clubs shall apply.
SECTION 99. Refund of Bets — Whenever, during the sale of tickets for an event, a horse is withdrawn therefrom, all bets made on said horse shall be refunded to the ticket holders concerned.
SECTION 100. Dividends and Refunds — All dividends for winning tickets and refund shall be paid to the holder thereof on the same day of the event/s concerned.
Those unclaimed on the same day may be collected from the racing club concerned within the next twenty (20) working days. Thereafter, unclaimed dividends shall be considered forfeited in favor of a charitable institution to be determined by the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 101. Number of Horses in a Race — In case there are only four (4) horses in a race and two (2) are scratched, the race will proceed at the club’s discretion.
SECTION 102. Prizes for Horses — Prizes for winning horses in regular races or in races other than those special or sponsored events, shall not be less than those fixed by law, decree, or those approved by the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 103. Drawing of Numbers for Post Position — Drawing of numbers to determine post positions of stakes entries shall be done at random irrespective of coupled entries. The total number or horses shall be raffled and drawn one at a time until the last number is out.
CHAPTER VI
Prohibition, Corrupt Practices,
Offenses, and Penalties
SECTION 104. Persons Prohibited from Betting — Under penalty of revocation of license or permit, the following persons are prohibited from betting directly or indirectly in any race held or conducted in the Philippines: Stewards, Clerk of Scales, Official Clockers, Starting Gate Helpers and such other persons as the PHILRACOM or the club concerned may prohibit.
Jockeys are allowed to bet (to win) only on the horse that they are riding and should put their bets through the owner or trainer of the horse concerned.
SECTION 105. Persons Prohibited from Racetrack — Under penalty of suspension of license or permit, the Racing Club, through its Racing Manager shall not admit or allow to remain in its premises on racing days the following persons:
Minors (below 18 years of age) unless accompanied by their parents or guardians; persons carrying deadly weapons or firearms of any description; except peace officers; or persons under the influence of drug/s; and such other persons as the PHILRACOM may determine.
SECTION 106. Persons Prohibited from Owning Race Horses — Under penalty of revocation of license or permit, the following are prohibited from owning racehorses directly or indirectly: Racing Clubs or other entities licensed to hold or conduct horse racing in the Philippines, Racing Managers, Stewards, Judges, Paddock Stewards, Handicappers, Starters, Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, and such other persons as the PHILRACOM may determine.
SECTION 107. Corrupt Practices — Every horse which runs in a race shall be run on its merits. Thus, any person found guilty of any of the corrupt practices stated below by the PHILRACOM after due investigation shall have his license or permit revoked and banned from owning race horses, training or riding them, or entering the premises of Racing Clubs on racing days, in addition to such fines and penalties as may be imposed under Presidential Decree No. 420, and other applicable laws: [Any person]
- who gives, promises, or offers, directly any bribe in any form to any persons having official duties in relation to any race or racehorse, or to any trainer, jockey or to any other person having charge of or access, to any racehorse, to perform any act contrary to the rules and regulations of racing;
- who, having official duties in relation to any Racing Club, racetrack or racehorse or any trainer, jockey, or any other person who having charge of or access to any racehorse solicits, accepts, or offers to accept any bribe in any form, to perform any act contrary to the rules and regulations of racing;
- who administers or injects any kind of drugs or substance to any horse inside the club premises more specifically inside the waiting paddock or saddling paddock.
Any unauthorized person found to be in possession of any syringe, hypodermic needle, injecting equipment, or any other paraphernalia inside the club premises, except those persons who by the nature of their profession require the possession of these equipments, shall be banned from the racetracks and if the offender is the horse owner, trainer or the groom, they shall be dealt with severely either by suspensions or fines not to exceed Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) or revocation of their license.
The PHILRACOM shall have the right to extract blood, saliva, or urine from any horse for drug detection. As such, all horse owners and trainers shall submit for blood extraction their horses within twenty-four (24) hours after the racing day upon order of the Board of Stewards to the PHILRACOM veterinarians if in the opinion of the Stewards the horse concerned might have been drugged with depressant/s or injected with stimulant/s.
- who willfully enters or causes to be entered for any race, or causes to start in any race, a horse which he knows or believes to be ineligible or not qualified, which shall be punished by a fine of Three Thousand Pesos (P3 ,000.00) and/or suspension of all horses under his trainership/ownership for a period of at least one (1) month; and in case of recidivism, double the fine and/or suspension. Horses whose owners are proven to be not involved may transfer the horses concerned to another trainer;
- who deliberately misleads the PHILRACOM or the Board of Stewards at any inquiry concerning the conduct of racing;
- who has in his possession within the premises of a racing club, or who uses appliances, electrical, mechanical, or otherwise, other than the ordinary equipment of such nature as could affect the speed or racing condition of horses;
- who, being within the premises of a racing club on racing day fails to report immediately to the authorities any offer or promise of a bribe or request or suggestion for a bribe or any corrupt, improper or fraudulent practice in relation to a race; and
- who is convicted of any crime or offense in relation to racing in this or any other country.
SECTION 107 A. Penalties — The following penalties shall be imposed for using any extraneous device on a horse during racing day without permission from the Board of Stewards:
1st offense fine of P 200.00
2nd offense fine of 500.00
3rd offense fine of 1,000.00
4th offense revocation of license
SECTION 108. Offenses and Penalties . — In addition to the following penalties, the PHILRACOM may impose a fine not less than P1,000.00 and/or revoke, modify, suspend permits/licenses when in its judgment the circumstances of the case so warrants.
SECTION 109. Acts or Omissions by Jockeys. — The following are the penalties for acts or omissions by jockeys:
BEFORE THE RACE:
- for failure to report any excess in his assigned weight for the horse he rides, by suspension of at least two (2) racing days;
- for declaring to ride in more than ten (10) races in one weekend racing day and for more than seven (7) rides for night racing and not correcting such fault before the first race of the day, by suspension of at least five (5) racing days;
- for not submitting to weighing out before the time fixed therefor, in accordance with Sec. 32.0, by suspension of at least five (5) racing days or a fine of P200.00;
- for refusing to wear his racing colors for the race without justifiable reasons, as determined by the Board of Stewards, as provided for by the trainer, by suspension of at least two (2) racing days;
- for not being fully dressed or for changing his blouse in full view of the public, by suspension of at least two (2) racing days, or a fine of at least One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) at the discretion of the Stewards;
- for not keeping his assigned place at the starting apparatus, unless permitted to do so by the Starter, by suspension of at least two (2) racing days;
- for being absent from the jockeys’ quarters two (2) races before his ride, by suspension of at least five (5) racing days;
- for communicating, talking or having contact with persons other than the officials of the PHILRACOM or club, upon leaving the saddling enclosure or paddock until the finish of the race, by suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days;
- for refusing to obey the orders of the Starter, by suspension of at least ten (10) racing days;
- for non-observance of the rule governing the starting apparatus before and during the start of the race, by suspension of at least two (2) racing days;
- for failure to report for medical check up before every ride, shall be penalized as follows:
a. for the first offense — fine of P100.00
b. for the second offense — fine of P200.00
c. for the third and succeeding offenses thereafter — suspension of five (5) racing days
- for non-appearance or refusal to ride a duly signed declared entry without justifiable cause, by an indefinite suspension but not less than one (1) month or fine of not less than P1,000.00 or both as the case may be;
- for failure to be properly attired or to be in proper uniform by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00);
- for failure to employ the required cincha and surcingle, by a fine of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00);
- for failure to report any untoward incident to the Starter regarding his mount, by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00);
- for unruly behaviour or conduct of his helper/s, by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00);
- for creating a situation wherein the horses they are supposed to ride are scratched or are forced to have a jockey-change due to overweight, shall be penalized as follows:
1st offense — P200.00 fine
2nd offense — a suspension of four (4) days
3rd offense — a suspension of eight (8) racing days
4th offense — a suspension of sixteen (16) racing days
5th offense — a suspension of thirty two (32) racing days
6th offense — a suspension of six (6) months
The above suspension shall be counted on a per ride basis. In other words, if a jockey is scratched three (3) times in one racing day due to overweight, he shall be suspended for an equivalent of three (3) offenses and so on.
However, a jockey who does not commit an overweight violation within a period of twelve (12) months after he has served a suspension shall be considered as a rider with clean slate - meaning that all his previous suspensions for overweight violations shall be negated. Thereafter, succeeding overweight violations shall start all over again as first (1st) offense, so on.
- for failure to carry his whip properly, by a fine of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- for not parading in numerical order before the Judges’ Stand on the way to the starting apparatus, by a fine of Twenty Five Pesos (P25.00);
- for refusing to ride his declared entry in the last race of an exotic betting scheme for an unjustifiable excuse, by suspension of at least six (6) months;
- for refusing to mount a horse which he was declared to ride despite the certification from the PHILRACOM veterinarians that the horse is fit to run, by an indefinite suspension and to appear before the PHILRACOM Board to explain his refusal to ride said horse.
DURING THE RACE:
- for unnecessarily brandishing, threatening or waving his whip or hand during the race, or grandstanding, by a suspension of at least two (2) racing days;
- for losing a race due to carelessness or over-confidence and not obtaining the best possible position, by a suspension of at least five (5) racing days to forty (40) racing days;
- for not allowing his horse to run on its own merits, or not obtaining the best possible placing or lack of interest, by suspension of from forty-one (41) racing days to six (6) months;
- for relaxing or pulling his mount before crossing the finish line, without prejudice to the betting public, by a suspension of two (2) racing days or a fine of Fifty Pesos (P50.00) or both, at the discretion of the Board of Stewards;
- for threatening to cross or weave in front of another, so as to actually impede it, by suspension of not more than six (6) months;
- for deliberately bumping or jostling another horse towards the inner or outer rail, by suspension of not more than six (6) months;
- for deliberately striking, pushing, holding or otherwise detaining another horse or jockey, by suspension of not more than six (6) months;
- for losing a race deliberately in any manner whatsoever, by suspension of at least six (6) months or revocation of license depending on the gravity of the situation;
- for exchanging, borrowing, or grabbing any racing equipment from any participating jockey during the course of the race, by a suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days;
- for not carrying the whip in his hand or for tucking the same in his belt, hip pocket, or boot, or bringing it in any manner other than as the rule prescribes, by a minimum fine of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- for using his whip in an unorthodox or unusual manner to impede or obstruct another entry, by suspension of at least five (5) racing days;
- for crossing, bumping, or jostling another entry while coming out of the starting gate, within the first twenty (20) meters of the race, by a suspension of at least five (5) racing days;
- for committing an act contrary to good, fair and just racing conduct, during the race, which is not covered or penalized under the existing rules of racing shall, at the discretion of the Board of Stewards, suffer a suspension of at least ten (10) racing days.
- for punishing his horse unnecessarily or committing undue acts of cruelty upon it after the end of the race, by suspension of at least five (5) racing days;
- for failure to salute after placing first, second, third, or fourth, when crossing the Judges’ Stand after the race by a fine of Twenty Five Pesos (P25.00), which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- for having less weight of over than 100 grams when weighed after the race, not having finished first, second or third, by a fine of FIFTY PESOS (P50.00), which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM.
A suspension of at least five (5) racing days shall be imposed for carrying more than the assigned weight including the allowance of 1-1/2 kilos, provided the excess weight is more than 200 grams, unless excess weight has been caused by rain or mud;
- for leaving the weighing machine before his weight has been verified, by a suspension of at least ten (10) racing days;
- for having less than the assigned weight after the race having finished first, by a minimum suspension of one year or banning from participation in future races.
A suspension of at least six (6) months shall be imposed on jockeys for having less than the assigned weight after the race, having finished second, third or fourth;
- for refusing, when required, to be weighed after the race, not having finished first, second third or fourth, by suspension of at least forty (40) racing days;
- for refusing to be weighed immediately after the end of the race, having finished first, second, third or fourth, by revocation of license;
- for having been involved in fraudulent combinations or fixed races, by suspension of at least six (6) months;
- for failure to inform the owner or trainer concerned of any suspension or order regarding the horse he rode, by suspension of five (5) racing days and/or fine in the amount of P100.00 which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- for using any of his riding paraphernalia to complete his required handicap weight, by a fine of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00).
- for disorderly conduct during a racing day, by suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days;
- for entering the jockeys’ compound or saddling enclosure without having a mount to ride, by suspension of at least forty (40) racing days, and if he is already under suspension, by an additional suspension of six (6) months;
- for possessing or wearing spurs other than those previously submitted to and approved by the PHILRACOM as well as other devices aside from the rosettes, blinkers, elastic bandages, and defense against abrasion as standard equipment, with the intention of forcing, stimulating, or urging his horse, by suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days;
- for dismounting or alighting from his mount at the starting gate without justifiable cause or without the express permission of the Starter or Board of Stewards, by suspension of five (5) racing days;
- for failure to use standard whip (28 inches or less from tip to tip), by a fine of One Hundred Pesos (P100.00) which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- In case a jockey is suspended three (3) times within a period of three hundred sixty five (365) days from the date of his first offense and the penalty imposed for each offense is a suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days, he shall be given an additional penalty of a six-month suspension for any succeeding offenses committed within the same period provided the offense is penalized by a suspension of at least twenty (20) racing days.
SECTION 110. Acts and Omissions by Horse Owners or Trainers — The following are the penalties for acts or omissions by horse owners or trainers:
- for instructing his jockey, directly or indirectly to lose the race wherein his horse shall take part, by suspension of such horse for a period of at least six (6) months and a fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5 ,000.00) by the trainer concerned and in case of repetition, by the banning of the horse from participating in any race, as well as the banning of the trainer;
- for applying or administering stimulants or tranquilizers, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of affecting the speed or condition of his horse in a race by suspension of the trainer and the horse concerned for a period of at least six (6) months;
- for failure to run his horse declared for a race, without justifiable cause as determined by the Board of Stewards and without notifying the latter at least four (4) races before the scheduled race, by suspension of the trainer for a period of at least six (6) months, as the case maybe in relation to paragraph 7 of Section 113 of these rules;
- for failure to bring his horse to the track in time for the parade of horses before the Judges’ Stand on its way to the starting apparatus, by suspension of the horse for at least thirty (30) calendar days and the trainer for a period of not less than one (1) month;
- for failure to report to the Board of Stewards before the race any defect of his horse, within his knowledge, which may affect its speed in the race, by suspension of the horse and the trainer for a period of not less than one (1) month;
- for disobeying the orders or regulations of the PHILRACOM or the racing club, or for disorderly or improper conduct, in his relations with the officials of the PHILRACOM or the Racing Club, or for insulting them when the latter are in the performance of their duties, by revocation of his license by the PHILRACOM taking into consideration the recommendation of the Board of Stewards or a fine of not less than P5 ,000.00 which shall accrue to the PHILRACOM;
- for failure to report and register any transfer of trainership of a horse in accordance with Section 38 hereof, both new owner and trainer shall be fined P200.00 each and a suspension of the horse for not less than one (1) month;
- for giving the wrong racing colors to the jockey by a fine of P100.00 for the first and second offenses and P200.00 for the subsequent offenses thereafter plus the disqualification from participation in the races of all the horses registered under his ownership until he shall have satisfactorily explained to the PHILRACOM his use of the wrong racing color.
In all cases of fines imposed for the use of wrong racing colors, all horses registered in the name of the owner concerned shall be disqualified from running or participating in the races until the fines are fully paid;
- trainers of participating horses being brought to the track by grooms not duly registered with the PHILRACOM, shall be penalized as follows:
1st offense — fine of P100.00
2nd offense — fine of P200.00
3rd offense — suspension of all horses under his trainership and shall not be allowed to participate without further order or clearance from the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 110.0 Cordoning of Jockeys Participating in the Last Race of the Winner-Take-All Events — In all Winner-Take-All events, during the parade of horses participating in the fifth leg of the Winner-Take-All event, all jockeys declared to ride in the sixth leg (and thereafter in the seventh leg of the said event shall report and remain in a cordoned area to be designated by the PHILRACOM. No jockey shall be allowed to leave this cordoned area except to saddle his horse and to parade his mount to the post at the proper time.
Horse owners and trainers and their authorized representatives may approach said cordoned area but they shall not communicate either orally or in writing to any person other than their respective jockeys.
For the purpose of this rule, the officials who may give authority to approach the specially designated cordoned area shall be any of the Commissioners and the Director for Racing. No member of the Board of Stewards shall give permission to approach said cordoned area unless a majority of the Board of Stewards decides that it is for the public interest to allow said person to approach said area.
Any jockey who leaves the cordoned area without any express permission for authority from the Board of Stewards shall be suspended for not less than thirty (30) calendar days but not more than six (6) months for the first offense. The second violation shall be penalized by a suspension of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year. On the third violation, the jockey shall be banned for life.
Any horse owner or trainer who communicates, either orally or in writing, with any person in the specially designated cordoned area other than his respective jockeys shall be penalized by having his horse suspended for not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months for the first offense, six (6) months to one (1) year for the second offense, and shall be banned for the third offense.
Jockeys who communicate either orally or in writing, with any person other than the owner or trainer of their respective mounts shall be penalized for a period not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year.
Any unauthorized person who communicates with any person at the cordoned area, either orally or in writing, shall be penalized as follows:
1. If the violator is a holder of any license from the PHILRACOM, his license shall be suspended for one (1) year;
2. If the violator is a horse owner whose his horse is not running in the last two (2) races of the Winner-Take-All event, all his horses shall be suspended for one (1) year;
3. Any other person shall be banned from the racetrack for one (1) year.
Any officer or employee of the PHILRACOM, who shall, without any authority to be at the cordoned area, communicates either orally or in writing with any person inside the said area, shall be suspended for one (1) year.
MISCELLANEOUS: Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, the PHILRACOM may impose as penalty, the revocation of the registration as horse owner and/or banning of all his horses from participating in any race and of the license as trainer, whenever the circumstance of the case so warrants.
In case of repeated violation of these rules involving horses belonging to or under the care of an owner or trainer, the PHILRACOM shall investigate the same and take appropriate action thereon.
SECTION 111. Racing Clubs and Other Entities — For failure to comply with the provision of these rules and regulations or with the resolutions, orders, or decisions of the PHILRACOM, or orders and resolutions of the Board of Stewards, a Racing Club or entity authorized to hold or conduct horse races in the Philippines shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) but not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and/or by the revocation or suspension of its license after due notice and hearing.
SECTION 111.0 Racing Club's Responsibility — It shall be the responsibility of the racing clubs to see to it that no unauthorized persons and stray animals are present on the track while a race is in progress. Non-compliance with the said rule shall mean a fine of P1 ,000.00 per infraction committed.
SECTION 112. Racing Officials — Officials of Racing Clubs or entities authorized to hold or conduct horse racing, such as Racing Managers, Judges, Club Announcers, Paddock Stewards, Handicappers, Starters, Veterinarians, Clockers, Clerks of Scales, and other officials and employees whose duties are related to the conduct of horse racing, who fail to comply with or violates the provisions of these rules and regulations or with the orders, resolutions or decisions of the PHILRACOM, shall be dealt with accordingly as the circumstances of the case may require.
SECTION 113. Horse — The following penalties shall be imposed upon race horses:
- Numbered horses which are unmanageable, uncontrollable, swerve in/out, stop during the course of the race, turn around, or commit any other acts or behaviour as determined by the Board of Stewards shall be penalized as follows:
1st offense — unmanageable-warning
2nd offense — unmanageable 15 calendar days
3rd offense — vicious 30 calendar days
4th offense — vicious 45 calendar days
5th offense — vicious 60 calendar days
6th offense — vicious 90 calendar days
7th offense — vicious banned
- Horses that refuse to start or refuse to run for the first time will be given a suspension of thirty (30) days. They will be allowed to participate in the races carrying no number only after serving the penalty. However, they can acquire a number again after three (3) consecutive good starts.
After acquiring a number, should the horse refuse to start or refuse to run again, said horse will again be suspended for thirty (30) calendar days after which it will be allowed to run without a number anew. However, the required number of good starts before acquiring a number shall now be five (5) after acquiring a number again, all succeeding repetitions of refusal to start of refusal to run shall follow the same pattern of suspension of thirty (30) calendar days and the requirement of five (5) consecutive good starts.
- Horses which are suspended for being late starters shall be penalized as follows:
1st offense— but does not come in the money—30 calendar days2nd offense—but does not come in the money—45 calendar days3rd offense—but does not come in the money—60 calendar days4th offense—but does not come in the money—90 calendar days5th offense—but does not come in the money—120 calendar days6th offense—but does not come in the money—banned
No penalty will be imposed on any late starters that win the race.
Horses that come in the money (2nd or 3rd) will be given a suspension of eight (8) racing days with barrier trial for the first offense. After passing the first barrier trial, the horse may be allowed to run again. Should it repeat being a late starter, the horse will be allowed to run without a number after serving the penalty and until it completes three (3) consecutive good starts, then it can again run carrying a number. After acquiring a number, should the horse repeat being a late starter, it will have to run without a number again after serving the penalty. However, it must now complete five (5) consecutive good starts before it can acquire a number anew. Subsequent late starting shall follow the same required five (5) consecutive good starts as above everytime after serving the corresponding penalty. Horse owners can avail of the option to continue running their horses unnumbered after serving the penalty for the second offense. However, if they desire to resume running with a number because they feel that the horse is already cured, then they may do so according to the rules and regulations.
Unnumbered horses, except in Open Handicap Races, shall not be allowed to participate in Stakes Races and other races where there is an added prize of P5 ,000.00 or more.
The BAD START* of an unnumbered entry during a race resulting in a win is still a bad start for purposes of computing the three good start requirement to qualify a horse to run with a number.
A horse will be allowed/required to participate in a race carrying no number for a maximum of ten (10) runs. A horse that is still ineligible to acquire a number after the 10th run shall be retired for breeding. However if in the 10th run, the horse was able to make a good start, it will be given the chance to run twice to fulfill the requirements of three (3) consecutive good starts.
GOOD START shall mean horses that leave the starting gate without any delay or simultaneously with the other entries.
- Horses veering in/out — On swerving (veering in/out), not hitting anyone, no impediments, no obstructions, no interference made by such horse and wins the race, no penalty shall be imposed. However, if the horse in question loses the race for opening up or boring in the penalty shall be as follows:
1st offense — warning
2nd offense — 15 calendar days
3rd offense — 30 calendar days
4th offense — 45 calendar days
5th offense — 60 calendar days
6th offense — 90 calendar days
7th offense — banned
Provided that for acts committed under this Section, the previous record of the horse shall be considered, as follows:
A horse penalized for the above offense, which after serving a period of suspension, runs for at least four (4) times in a period of at least one (1) year, without being penalized for the same offense, shall be deemed to have negated the immediate previous offense. For every other same number of runs and for the same period of time, another immediate previous offense shall be negated.
A horse which is found to be savage and poses danger to the lives and limbs of grooms, jockeys, and other persons in the racetrack shall be automatically barred from racing.
Force the purpose of this Section, a horse shall be considered "vicious" if it acts or behaves in any of the following manner:
a. does not leave the starting gate;
b. does not leave within a reasonable time therefore compromising or diminishing its chance of success;
c. comes out from the starting gate and uncontrollably swerves, stops, turns around or refuses to run during the course of the race; and
d. commits any other act or behaviour analogous to the foregoing as determined by the Board of Stewards.
- Horses coming in 75 meters behind the third placer — Any horse left at a distance exceeding 75 meters during the race from the third horse as the latter reaches the finish line shall be suspended for a period of not less than eight (8) racing days but not more than twenty (20) racing days;
For this purpose, the Racing Clubs shall provide visible signs indicating such distances at the precise spot of the track.
- Horses suffering from bilateral epistaxis — Any horse which suffers from bilateral epistaxis during the course of a race shall be penalized as follows:
1st occurrence-but does not win — warning
2nd occurrence-but does not win — 1 month
3rd occurrence-but does not win — 2 months
4th occurrence-but does not win — 4 months
5th occurrence-but does not win — 8 months
6th occurrence-but does not win — 1 year
7th occurrence-but does not win — 2 years
8th occurrence-but does not win — banned
No penalty will be imposed if the horse bleeds but wins the race.
No horse which suffers from epistaxis (nose bleeding) shall be allowed to start in any race unless after a satisfactory trial run of at least 1400 meters under the supervision of the PHILRACOM and Club veterinarians.
Provided that for acts committed under this Section, the previous record of the horse shall be considered, as follows:
A horse penalized for epistaxis (nose bleeding) which, after serving the period of suspension, runs for at least six (6) times in a period of at least one (1) year without incurring the same offense shall be deemed to have negated the immediate previous offense. For every other same number of runs and for the same period of time, another previous offense shall be negated.
- Withdrawal of a horse before the start of the first race — Any horse declared to run in a race which is withdrawn therefrom for any reason, before the start of the first race shall be suspended for at least one (1) month or fined Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00) at the owner’s option. However, a withdrawal of an entry made less than four (4) races before its scheduled race shall be given a definite suspension of at least two (2) months or a fine of Six Thousand Pesos (P6 ,000.00).
Exception: If duly certified by the PHILRACOM veterinarian that the horse is physically unfit to run because of illness, provided, that if the horse to be examined is far from the vicinity of the race track where it is scheduled to run, that the expenses to be incurred by the PHILRACOM veterinarian in checking the incapacity of the horse to be withdrawn shall be borne by the horse owner in an amount reasonable for the purpose.
- Sudden reversal of form — For sudden reversal of form or inconsistency in its performance within a period of three racing weeks from its last outing, a horse shall be suspended for at least three (3) months;
- Horses found out of condition — Horses which are found to be out of condition shall be given the following suspension:
1st offense — one (1) month
2nd offense — three (3) months
3rd offense — six (6) months
4th offense — one (1) year
5th offense — banned
- Any horse that is scratched from the race because of an accident met going to or while inside the starting gate or due to lameness (as certified by the PHILRACOM Veterinarians) shall be given an indefinite suspension but not less than one (1) month with trial run.
All participating horses shall, before the race, be at the designated paddock/waiting ring, join the parade with their respective mounted jockeys, be ridden to the starting gate and enter the starting gate without delay.
If a horse shall be found unruly, the Veterinarian/Starter on duty shall forthwith give his report and recommendation, and every assistance shall be given that horse to start the race.
However, that horse shall be suspended in accordance with existing rules and shall not be allowed to run in another race until the PHILRACOM has determined that the horse, after proper schooling is fit to run again.
SECTION 113.1 Considerations for a Horse to be Declared as a Non-Starter — Any horse that comes in the money (first, 2nd or 3rd) and is found to be lacking in weight due to whatever reason, whether intentional or accidental shall be considered as a non-starter in the race and shall fall under all the rules and regulations for scratched horses.
The jockey concerned will be given the corresponding penalties in accordance with the rules.
Any jockey that jumps from his mount intentionally whether to lose the race or due to force majeure shall be considered as a non-participant in the race and his mount as a non-starter and shall be governed by all the rules and regulations for scratched horses. The jockey, if found guilty of jumping intentionally in order to lose the race, shall be given the corresponding penalties in accordance with the rules and regulations of horse racing.
Any jockey caught carrying any electronic device or apparatus immediately after the race shall be suspended accordingly and his mount considered as a non-starter. It shall fall under all the rules and regulations for scratched horses.
SECTION 114. Effect of Suspension or Banning of a Horse — The suspension or banning of a horse from participating in any race shall take effect even if there is a change of ownership or trainership.
SECTION 115. Destruction of a Horse — In the event that a horse suffers injury in the race track, the Stewards, upon the recommendation of the Club or PHILRACOM veterinarians, shall order the destruction of said horse if in the latter's opinion such destruction is necessary to avoid further suffering of the horse.
SECTION 116. A jockey shall take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to win or obtain the best possible placing and must ride his mount to the finish without however unnecessarily punishing his mount.
SECTION 117. Indication of Aluminum Shoes or Plates of a Racehorse in the Declaration Form — Horse owners or trainers shall specifically indicate in the declaration form the type of plates to be worn by their horses in a scheduled race.
Horses which are found, when presented to the Paddock Stewards, to be using different types of plates other than the plates previously declared by its owner or trainer shall be suspended and the owner and/or trainer shall be penalized as follows:
1st offense — one (1) month suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of P1 ,500.00
2nd offense — two (2) months suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of P3 ,000.00
succeeding offenses — two (2) months suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of P3,000.00 or revocation of the license of the horse owner and/or trainer, if, after due investigation, said horse owner and/or has been guilty for the third time of deliberately misleading the betting public.
In the Novato Races, horses who participate therein may use any racing plates or whatever equipment and the same shall not be taken into consideration when they join or participate in their first regular races (with purses.)
SECTION 118. Change or Horseshoe/s Inside the Saddling or Waiting Paddock — Change of horseshoe/s or any racehorse inside the saddling or waiting paddock shall not be authorized except in case of emergency repair/s on the hoof of a racehorse concerned while already quartered thereat.
Horses which come into the saddling or waiting paddock unshod and/or not properly shod shall be suspended and the owner and/or trainer thereof shall be meted the following penalty:
a. 1st offense — one (1) month suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1 ,500.00);
b. 2nd offense — two (2) months suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of Three Thousand Pesos (P3 ,000.00);
c. succeeding offenses — two (2) months suspension of the owner and/or trainer or a fine of P3,000.00 OR revocation of the license of the horse owner and/or trainer, if, after due investigation, said horse owner and/or trainer has been guilty for the third time of deliberately misleading the betting public.
Horse owners and/or trainers will be allowed to change plates of their horses from aluminum to iron/steel only after the aluminum plates shall have been used for four (4) consecutive runs. Provided due notice shall be made to the Stewards regarding the matter. Any other types of plates to be worn by their horses shall be indicated in their declaration form.
CHAPTER VII
Decisions and Appeals
Board of Stewards
SECTION 119. Procedure — The Board of Stewards shall, motu proprio, or by a complaint filed before it, investigate, decide, take appropriate action and impose the corresponding penalty or penalties in accordance with these rules and regulations on all case of infractions, violations, offense, irregularities and anomalies committed during any racing day within or outside the premises of the Racing Clubs, by horse owners, trainers, jockeys, racing club officials and employees, or any person who in any manner perform duties connected to or related to the conduct of races.
SECTION 119.0 Nature of Proceeding Before the Board of Stewards — The Board of Stewards shall not be bound by technical rules on evidence. It may resort to all and every fair and reasonable means to ascertain the facts for a just determination of the case before it.
SECTION 119.1 Exercise of Authority by the Board of Stewards — The following rules shall be observed by the Board of Stewards in the exercise of its authority:
1. The presence of at least three (3) members shall constitute a quorum;
2. The meetings of the Board of Stewards shall be presided by the Chairman. In the event the Chairman is absent or otherwise incapacitated, the members present shall choose the presiding officer from the PHILRACOM Stewards present unless otherwise specifically designated by the PHILRACOM.
3. Investigation — The Chairman and/or any member of the Board of Stewards may summon any owner, trainer and/or jockey or any party during a racing day in the exercise of the Board’s authority over the conduct of races. During the investigation, the party summoned shall be informed of the reason for the investigation and shall be extended fair and reasonable opportunity to defend himself if the need arises or to explain his side. In the case of jockeys summoned immediately after the race, the video-tape of the race shall be replayed in their presence; the same procedure shall be observed upon request of the horse owners and/or trainers.
Immediately after the investigation, the Board shall sit en banc to deliberate and decide; During the deliberation, all unauthorized persons, including the party under investigation, shall be excluded.
4. Decision — The majority vote of the members present shall constitute a valid decision.
In the event of a tie in the votes cast, the case shall be resolved in favor of the party under investigation.
The decisions of the Board shall be recorded in the log book in detail; dissenting votes shall likewise be recorded and duly signed by the dissenting member.
SECTION 120. Accommodation at the Stewards' Stand — To ensure the highest prestige and reputation in the field of horse racing and place the Officials-in-Charge of the supervision and control of the conduct of the sport during racing days above Board, only the following persons shall be allowed to stay at the Stewards’ Stand:
1.The Racing Stewards;
2. The Judges of the Races
3. The Trainee Steward
4. The Secretary and/or Clerk assigned to duty
In coordinating with the Racing Officials of the racing day, the Chief Racing officer (PHILRACOM) shall be allowed access to the Stewards’ Stand, as well as officials or personnel of the Commission but only those who have official business with the Stewards and/or Judges from time to time.
Persons or individuals not duly authorized or not on official business with said officials-in-charge must not be permitted to enter or gain access at the place, to dispel any doubt and suspicion in the minds of the racing public as to the nature of their presence thereat.
SECTION 121. Decisions and Rulings of the Board of Stewards — Any decision, order or ruling of the Board of Stewards shall be rendered only after due hearing, with notice to all parties concerned, unless a summary proceeding is necessary as determined by the Board of Stewards to maintain the orderly conduct and integrity of the races. Before a decision, order or ruling imposing any punishment is rendered, the Board must have a substantial evidence of the guilt of the party investigated. In the meantime, the Stewards shall not sign the log book concerned until after all requests for reconsideration (if any) shall have been decided or the inquiry conducted by the Board shall have been terminated.
SECTION 122. Basis for the Stewards’ Decision, Order or Ruling — In rendering a decision, the Board of Stewards shall take into account as far as practicable:
a. the condition of the horse;
b. the ticket sales on the horse;
c. the immediate past performance and running habits of the horse;
d. the riding style, ability and immediate past performance of the jockey;
e. the general reputation of the horse owner, jockey and/or trainer (stable factor);
f. such other matters officially brought to the knowledge of the Board that could aid it in arriving at a just determination of the case.
Consequently, it shall be incumbent upon the club to keep a record of the performance of each horse, including such details as the use of blinkers, the kind of bit, the length or rein, the type of racing plates used in races wherein it has won or placed (earned a prize) and also a record of each jockey with regards to his riding style, ability and performance, shall be on file for ready reference.
SECTION 123. Public Announcement of Suspension — Public announcement of suspensions or other penalties shall be made by the Board of Stewards.
SECTION 124. Ordinary Appeals — The decisions, order or rulings of the Board of Stewards shall be final unless appealed to the PHILRACOM within seventy two (72) working hours from receipt thereof by the aggrieved party. Pending appeal with the PHILRACOM, the decision, order or ruling of the Board of Stewards shall be immediately executory unless otherwise stayed by the same.
SECTION 125. How an Ordinary Appeal may be Taken — An appeal from the decision, order or ruling of the Board of Stewards shall be made by filing with the PHILRACOM a petition for the review of such decision, order or ruling of the Board of Stewards which shall contain a concise statement of the issue involved and the grounds relied upon for the petition, and which shall be under oath and accompanied by an appeal fee of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00).
SECTION 126. Dismissal of an Ordinary Appeal — An ordinary appeal may be dismissed by PHILRACOM for any of the following reasons:
a. failure to comply with the requirements stated under the foregoing provisions;
b. for the non-appearance of the petitioner (appellant) at any of the scheduled hearings on appeal;
c. if the appeal taken is patently frivolous or dilatory in nature or purpose;
d. if the appeal is withdrawn;
e. for such other cases as the PHILRACOM may determine sufficient to warrant the dismissal.
SECTION 127. Effect of Dismissal or Denial — Upon the dismissal of the appeal or the denial of the petition for review, the decision, order or ruling of the Board of Stewards in controversy shall be considered affirmed and rendered immediately executory.
If the dismissal or denial is based upon a finding that the appeal taken was patently frivolous or dilatory in nature, the PHILRACOM may, in its discretion, increase the penalty imposed upon him by the Board of Stewards.
SECTION 128. Motu Propio Power of the PHILRACOM — The PHILRACOM shall investigate and decide a case motu propio or upon complaint filed before it.
SECTION 129. Decisions, Orders, and Rulings of PHILRACOM — All decisions, orders, and rulings of the PHILRACOM shall be rendered after due investigation, with notice to all parties concerned, except when a summary proceeding is necessary to maintain the integrity of horse racing, however, due process shall be observed in all cases.
SECTION 130. Designation of Any Member or Officer to Conduct Hearings — The PHILRACOM may designate any of its members or officers to conduct hearings and investigations on any matter pending before it.
SECTION 131. Not Bound by Technical Rules — The PHILRACOM shall not be bound by the technical rules on evidence, procedure, as well as forms and formalities. It may resort to all and every fair and reasonable means to ascertain the facts for a just determination of the case before it. Substantial evidence, whenever necessary, shall be sufficient to support a decision, ruling or order.
SECTION 132. PHILRACOM Decision — In review of orders or rulings of the Board of Stewards, the PHILRACOM may affirm, modify or reverse the same, increase or decrease the penalty rendered as it may deem proper under the premises.
SECTION 133. Automatic Review — All cases where in the Board of Stewards recommend the banning or revocation of license of any person licensed or registered with the Commission shall be automatically reviewed by the PHILRACOM.
SECTION 134. Appeal to the President — All decisions, orders or rulings of the PHILRACOM are final unless appealed to the Office of the President of the Philippines within seventy two (72) hours from receipt of such decision, order or ruling by the aggrieved party.
The decisions, orders or rulings of the PHILRACOM shall be immediately executory pending appeal, unless stayed by order of the President.
SECTION 135. Effectivity — These rules and regulations shall take effect during the week-end races of January 5, 1991 and in all subsequent race meetings.
The amendments incorporated herein which had already been promulgated by the PHILRACOM shall take effect upon their approval.
Adopted: 15 Oct. 1990
| ( SGD.) NICANOR P. JACINTO, III | |
| Chairman | |
| ( SGD.) ABRAHAM V. DALA | ( SGD.) FEDERICO B. MORENO |
| Attorney V | Commissioner |
| | |
| ( SGD.) JOSE B LOBERIZA | ( SGD.) EDGARDO L. MENDOZA |
| Commissioner | Executive Director III |