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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-748

NOTICES

Pylon Rule

[47 Pa.B. 2527]
[Saturday, April 29, 2017]

 The State Horse Racing Commission (Commission) hereby provides notice that on March 29, 2017 (Administrative Docket No. 2017-6), in accordance with the statutory authority set forth in 3 Pa.C.S. § 9311(a) and (h) (relating to State Horse Racing Commission), it issued an Order approving and adopting the Pylon Rule to be implemented at standardbred horse racing facilities within this Commonwealth. The Pylon Rule establishes guidelines, including penalty provisions when necessary, to be used by the Commission's Board of Judges to ensure consistent oversight and adherence to the parameters and layout of the race course.

 The complete text of the March 29, 2017, Order, including the specific guidelines and provisions, is set forth as follows. Within the next several weeks the Commission will republish the Program as temporary regulations. Until that occurs, the Pylon Rule set forth as follows offers guidance to officials and participants within the racing industry. The complete text of the referenced documents is as follows.

Order

 And Now, this 29th day of March, 2017, upon consideration of the procedures set forth in the above referenced ''Pylon Rule'' and upon consideration of the purpose of the pylon rule to ensure a fair and competitive playing field during the running of a race and to maintain consistent oversight of the penalties to be assessed under the pylon rule, the Commission hereby approves and adopts the Pylon Rule as specifically set forth in ''Attachment A'' to this Order. The Commission further directs its staff to publish notice of the above Pylon Rule in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as soon as possible.

RUSSELL C. REDDING, 
Chairperson
State Horse Racing Commission

Attachment A

Pylon Rule

Section 1. General Rule.

 A. It shall be a violation of the pylon rule if a horse while on stride, or part of the horse's sulky, leaves the race course by going inside the existing pylons when not forced to do so by the actions of another driver and/or horse. The position of the pylons (as set forth in section 4) shall constitute the inside limits of the race course.

 B. When an act of interference causes a horse, or part of the horse's sulky, to cross inside the pylons and the horse is placed by the Judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered.

Section 2. Placement of offending horses.

 In races conducted at pari-mutuel meetings, for purposes of placing the horse, the following shall apply:

 1. If a horse while on stride, or part of the horse's sulky, goes inside two (2) consecutive pylons, the offending horse shall be placed behind all horses that are lapped onto the offending horse at the wire;

 2. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse's sulky, goes inside three (3) or more consecutive pylons, the offending horse shall be placed last;

 3. If in the opinion of the Judges a horse while on stride, or part of the horse's sulky, goes inside a pylon(s) and that action gave the horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race or the action helped improve its position in the race, the horse may be placed at the discretion of the Judges.

Section 3. Penalties.

 In races conducted at pari-mutuel meetings, drivers, who in the opinion of the Board of Judges, leave the race course when not forced to do so by another driver and/or horse may be subject to the following monetary penalty or suspension.

 1. For the 1st violation, a monetary penalty of $200 shall be imposed;

 2. For the 2nd violation within a year of the 1st violation a monetary penalty of $300 shall be imposed;

 3. For the 3rd violation within a year of the 1st violation a minimum monetary penalty of $500 plus a suspension for 3 days shall be imposed;

 4. For the 4th violation within a year of the 1st violation a minimum monetary penalty of $1,000 and a suspension for 5 days shall be imposed.''

Section 4. Pylon location and placement.

 Pylons at all race track facilities shall be spaced consistently and shall conform to the following:

 1. 2 feet above ground;

 2. 30 degree angle facing inward to the track surface;

 3. 40 feet apart on the turns;

 4. 60 feet apart on the straightaways;

BRETT REVINGTON, 
Director
Bureau of Standardbred Horse Racing

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-748. Filed for public inspection April 28, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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