SAFETY EQUIPMENT
§ 303.5. Helmets and vests.
(a) Any person mounted on a horse or stable pony while on the licensed racetrack or association grounds must wear a protective safety helmet securely fastened under the chin at all times. Additionally, all members of the starting gate crew must adhere to this regulation at all times while performing their duties or handling a horse. For the purpose of this regulation, a member of the starting crew means any person licensed as an assistant Starter or any person who handles a horse in the starting gate. The helmet must comply with one of the following minimum safety standards or later revisions:
(1) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM 1163);
(2) European Standards (EN-1384 or PAS-015 or VG1);
(3) Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZ 3838 or ARB HS 2012);
(4) Snell Equestrian Standard 2001.
(b) Any person mounted on a horse or stable pony on the association grounds must wear a properly-secured safety vest at all times. Additionally, all members of the starting gate crew must also adhere to this regulation at all times while performing their duties or handling a horse. For the purpose of this regulation, a member of the starting gate crew means any person licensed as an assistant Starter or any person who handles a horse at the starting gate. The safety vest must comply with one of the following minimum standards or later revisions:
(1) British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA):2000 Level 1;
(2) Euro Norm (EN) 13158:2000 Level 1;
(3) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2681-08 or F1937;
(4) Shoe and Allied Trade Research Association (SATRA) Jockey Vest Document M6 Issue 3; or
(5) Australian Racing Board (ARB) Standard 1.1998.
(c) A safety helmet or a safety vest shall not be altered in any manner nor shall the product marking be removed or defaced.
(d) All horses with a jockey or exercise rider mounted that are racing, parading or warming up prior to racing or jogging or exercising at any time must be equipped with a type of safety reins approved by the Commission. Reins to be approved by the Commission may be originally designed and constructed to provide a secure secondary attachment to the bit that is secured to a reinforcement material to prevent failure due to breakage of the rein, or breakage or inadvertent loss of the primary connection to the bit.
(e) The Commission, by written notice to the regulated community and by Order published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, may amend, modify or update the previosly stated required minimum standards for helmets and vests.
(f) Failure of the previously stated persons to adhere to the previously stated safety helmet and safety vests provisions may subject the person to the following penalties:
(1) First offense—a written warning;
(2) Second offense—$50 fine;
(3) Third or subsequent offense—$250 fine or suspension, or both, at the discretion of the Stewards.
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