from the Association of Racing Commissioners International

Saratoga Springs, NY — The RCI Model Rules Committee met on Friday in Saratoga Springs and has made the following recommendations to the RCI Board for adoption:

• Impose further restrictions on the use of toe grabs in thoroughbred racing, limiting their size to 2mm.
• Impose a new requirement on licensed horse trainers to undergo at least four hours of continuing education each year as a condition of maintaining a current trainer’s license. The continuing education program would be required to be approved by the RCI or the commission in a particular jurisdiction.

The Model Rules Committee also voted in favor of making significant changes to the rules concerning the use of riding crops, setting specifications to limit the size and weight of the crop, allowing only flaps, and further defining the proper use of the crop. A subcommittee was formed to perfect the proposed language of the Model Rule and it is anticipated that the full committee will modify the rule at its October meeting, clearing the way for full Board passage.

The committee voted to not adopt a proposal to modify the Claiming Rule that would provide for the voiding of a claim under certain circumstances where a horse due to injury or distress fails to return to the unsaddling area. There was support but no consensus on the committee to require all claimed horses to be sent to the test barn at the expense of the new owner. The committee took no action on this matter at this time.

Regulatory jurisdictions with representatives present and participating in the Model Rules meeting included California, New York, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Virginia, Indiana, South Dakota, Ontario, Jamaica, Trinidad/Tobago, Delaware and Minnesota.