Section 1415.10  Identification of Horses

No horse shall be permitted to start that has not been fully identified. The responsibility in the matter of establishing the identity of a horse, of his complete and actual ownership, shall be as binding on the persons so identifying or undertaking to establish identification as it is on the person having the horse requiring identification. And the same penalty shall apply to them in case of fraud or attempt at fraud. The paddock judge in such instances shall keep a written record of such identification and by whom made.

Section 1415.15  Lip Tattoo or Microchip

No horse will be permitted to start at a pari-mutuel race meeting unless it has been tattooed on the upper lip with an identification number or implanted with an electronic horse identification microchip that accurately identifies the horse and is compliant with the international standards (International Organization for Standardization, ISO Central Secretariat, 1, ch. De la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland, ISO Standard 11784:1996, no later editions or amendments). However, the requirement of a lip tattoo shall not apply to horses entered in stakes races when the horses are fully identified pursuant to Section 1415.10 and when the horses have raced at pari-mutuel race meetings outside of North America.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 16733, effective October 1, 2011)

Section 1415.20  Authority of Starter

Horses are in the hands of the starter from the moment they leave the paddock until the start is made.

Section 1415.30  Jockeys to Dismount

In the case of delay at the post, the starter may permit the jockeys to dismount and the horses be cared for during the delay; otherwise, no jockeys shall dismount.

Section 1415.40  All Horses Parade

All horses shall parade, and under penalty of disqualification, carry their weight from the paddock to the starting post, such parade to pass the stewards' stand. A rider thrown on the way to the post must remount at the point at which he was thrown.

Section 1415.50  Horses Led to Post

The paddock judge may permit a horse to be led to the post with weight up, keeping a reasonable distance from the other horses in the race, and any horse so led must pass the stewards' stand.

Section 1415.60  Starter's Orders

The starter shall give all orders necessary to obtain a fair start.

Section 1415.70  Starter's Assistants

The starter may appoint his assistants who must be licensed by the Board. The starter, or his chief assistant, shall keep records of horses handled, by which assistant, and equipment used if other than the ordinary lead strap.

Section 1415.80  Causes of Delay

a)         Causes of delay, if any occur, shall be reported to the stewards by the starter.

b)         Post parades shall be for a period of 10 minutes unless a different period is approved by the state steward. Persons causing a delay in the post parade may be fined or suspended.

(Source:  Amended June 14, 1974, filed June 24, 1974)

Section 1415.90  Report Presence on Grounds

A horse shall not be qualified to start in any race unless not less than 30 minutes before the time set for the race:

a)         Its presence on the grounds of the operator is reported to the paddock judge;

b)         It is announced to the clerk of the scales as a starter; and

c)         The name of its jockey is given to the latter official.

Section 1415.100  Jockey Fees Paid

No horse shall be allowed to start for any race and no jockey shall be weighed out for any horse until there has been paid or guaranteed the jockey fee or any stake or entrance money due, by the owner in respect to that race, which information shall be supplied by the racing secretary.

Section 1415.110  Licensed Trainer

No horse shall be qualified to start in any race unless in the hands of a licensed trainer.

Section 1415.120  Veterinarians' List

No horse on the veterinarians' list shall be qualified to enter or start.

Section 1415.130  Scratches and Refunds

a)         The Board of Stewards may excuse any horse and order it scratched from a race at any time before the race is actually started.

b)         The operator shall also refund to the owner of such horse the starting fee, if any is required under the conditions of the race.

Section 1415.140  Number of Starters

The number of starters in overnight races shall be limited by the width of the track at the starting post, the maximum number to be determined by the stewards. The number of starters in such overnight races, except handicaps, shall be reduced to the proper number by lot, or by division (also by lot) of the race, at the option of the operator. The division of overnight handicaps shall be made by the racing secretary in his entire discretion.

Section 1415.150  Horse Must Run the Course

Every horse whose starting is obligatory is expected to run the course, unless excused by the stewards, and in case of failure to do so, the stewards may fine or suspend any person responsible therefor.

Section 1415.160  Starting Gate

Except in cases of emergency, a padded starting gate, approved by the Board, shall be used in starting all races.

(Source:  Amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 20056, effective December 4, 1990)

Section 1415.170  Post Positions

All horses will enter the starting gate in the order of their announced post positions unless otherwise ordered by the starter with the approval of the stewards. Vicious and unruly horses may be placed on the outside of the line.

Section 1415.180  Horse, When a Starter

Where a starting gate is used, no horse entered in any race is classed as a starter unless the starting gate opens in front of him simultaneously with the opening of the gates in front of the other horses at the start of the race. Refusal of a horse to break with his field shall not deem him a non-starter.

Section 1415.190  Failure of Starting Gate

If for any reason the doors in front of any stall in a mechanically or electrically operated gate should fail to open, thereby preventing a horse from starting when the starter dispatches the field, these rules shall apply.

a)         If the conditions for a race include a starting fee, such fee shall be repaid to the owner of the horse prevented from starting in the race through failure of the gates to open.

b)         Where the film patrol is not used, the starter shall make the sole decision on the question of what horse or horses are prevented from starting in a race through failure of the gates to open.

c)         No recall or recall flag shall be used because of the failure of the gates to open.

d)         If in any race less than two horses leave the stalls, the operator shall not be obliged to make payment of purse money to the one horse which finishes, but shall endeavor to re-card the race at the earliest time possible.

Section 1415.200  Start Without Gate

When a race is started without a gate, there shall be no start until, and no recall after, the assistant starter has dropped his flag in answer to that of the starter.

Section 1415.210  Horse, When a Starter Without a Gate

Where no starting gate is used, a horse entered is a starter when the official starter starts the race.

Section 1415.220  Schooling

Horses shall be schooled to face the barrier under the supervision of the starter or his assistant, who shall designate the horses that are to constitute the schooling list.

Section 1415.230  Twitches and War Bridles (Repealed)

(Source:  Repealed at 6 Ill. Reg. 10013, effective August 3, 1982)

Section 1415.240  Starter (Repealed)

(Source:  Repealed at 7 Ill. Reg. 2170, effective February 4, 1983)

Section 1415.250  Starter Reports Fines (Repealed)

(Source:  Repealed at 7 Ill. Reg. 2170, effective February 4, 1983)

Section 1415.260  Inspection of Plating

A representative of the operator shall inspect the plating of each horse as it enters the paddock before the race, record the type of shoes worn on a board provided for that purpose in the paddock and keep a written record for the stewards. Any deficiency in shoeing shall be reported immediately by the inspector to the paddock steward.  A trainer or owner shall not enter or start, or cause to be entered or started, a horse that, if plated, is not plated properly, as determined by the paddock blacksmith.  If a horse is intended to start without shoes, it must be declared at the time of entry.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 538, effective January 01, 2003)

Section 1415.270  Change in Course

By permission of the Board, races may be run over a race course other than the one over which they have been announced to be run.

Section 1415.280  Equipment Changes

a)         Permission for a horse to wear blinkers, or to discontinue the use of them, must be approved by the starter before being granted by the stewards. Any request for such a change must be stated at the time of entry.

b)         Permission for a horse to wear blinkers, or to discontinue the use of them, following a winning race may be granted at the discretion of the stewards.

(Source:  Added at 18 Ill. Reg. 11620, effective July 7, 1994)

Section 1415.290  Prohibited Equipment

Shoes (racing plates) that have toe grabs with a height greater than 2 millimeters (0.15748 inches) and bends, jar caulks, stickers and any other traction devices shall be prohibited on the front shoes of thoroughbred horses while racing or training on all racing surfaces.

(Source:  Added at 33 Ill. Reg. 4165, effective March 1, 2009)