§ 305.284. Paddock to post.
(a) Each horse shall carry the full weight assigned for that race from the paddock to the starting post, and shall parade past the Stewards’ stand, unless excused by the Stewards. The post parade shall not exceed 12 minutes, unless otherwise ordered by the Stewards. It shall be the duty of the Stewards to ensure that the horses arrive at the starting gate as near to post time as possible.
(b) After the horses enter the track, a jockey may not dismount or entrust the horse to the care of an attendant without the prior consent of the starter, unless, it is necessary to do so because of an accident to the jockey, the horse or the equipment. During any delay during which a jockey is permitted to dismount, all other jockeys may also dismount and their horses may be attended by others. After the horses enter the track, only the jockey, an assistant starter, the Commission Veterinarian, the racing veterinarian or an outrider or pony rider may touch the horse before the start of the race.
(c) If a jockey is injured on the way to the post, the horse shall be returned to the paddock or any other area designated by the Stewards, re-saddled with the appropriate weight and remounted with a replacement jockey.
(d) After passing the Stewards’ stand in parade, the horses may break formation and proceed to the post in any manner unless otherwise directed by the Stewards. Once at the post, the horses shall be started without unnecessary delay.
(e) Horses shall arrive at the starting post in post-position order.
(f) If a horse throws its jockey on the way from the paddock to the post, the horse must be returned to the point where the jockey was thrown, where it shall be remounted and then proceed over the route of the parade to the post. The horse must carry its assigned weight from paddock to post and from post to finish.
(g) If a horse leaves the course while moving from paddock to post, the horse shall be returned to the course at the nearest practical point to that at which it left the course and shall complete its parade to the post from the point at which it left the course unless ordered scratched by the Stewards.
(h) No person shall willfully delay the arrival of a horse at the post.
(i) The starter shall load horses into the starting gate in any order deemed necessary to ensure a safe and fair start as set forth in this chapter. Only the jockey, the racing veterinarian, the starter or an assistant starter shall handle a horse at the post.
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