§ 305.291. Use of a riding crop.
(a) Although the use of a riding crop is not required, any jockey who uses a riding crop during a race shall do so only in a manner consistent with exerting his/her best efforts to win. In all races where a jockey will ride without a riding crop, an announcement of this fact shall be made over the public-address system.
(b) Other than the riding crop approved by the Stewards, no electrical, mechanical or other device designed to increase or retard the speed of a horse, shall be possessed by a jockey, nor shall any electrical, mechanical device by applied by anyone to a horse at any time on the grounds of the licensed racing entity during the meeting.
(c) Riding crops shall not be used on 2-year-old horses before April 1 of each year.
(d) The riding crop shall be used during a race for safety, correction and encouragement of the horse in an appropriate, proportionate, and professional manner, taking into account the rules of racing herein. The stimulus provided by the use of the riding crop shall be monitored by the Stewards at all times so as not to compromise the health, safety and welfare of the horse.
(e) Except for extreme safety reasons all riders should comply with the following when using a riding crop:
(1) Initially showing the horse the riding crop or tapping the horse with the riding crop down, giving it time to respond before using it;
(2) Having used the riding crop, giving the horse a chance to respond before using it again;
(i) ‘‘Chance to respond’’ is defined as one of the following actions by a jockey:
(a) Pausing the use of the riding crop on their horse before resuming again;
(b) Pushing on their horse with a rein in each hand, keeping the riding crop in the up or down position;
(c) Showing the horse the riding crop without making contact; or
(d) Moving the riding crop from one hand to the other.
(3) Using the riding crop in rhythm with the horse’s stride.
(f) When deciding whether to review the jockey’s use of the riding crop, Stewards may consider how the jockey has used the riding crop during the course of the entire race, with particular attention to its use in the closing stages, and other relevant factors such as:
(1) The manner in which the riding crop was used;
(2) The purpose for which the riding crop was used;
(3) The distance over which the riding crop was used and whether the number of times it was used was reasonable and necessary; and
(4) Whether the horse was continuing to respond.
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