Delaware Administrative Code
Title 3 - Agriculture
1000 - Thoroughbred Racing Commission
1001 - Thoroughbred Racing Rules and Regulations
Section 1001-12.0 - Weights

12.1 Penalties Obligatory; Allowances Must Be Claimed: Weight penalties are obligatory; weight allowances must be claimed at time of entry and shall not be waived after the posting of entries, except by consent of the Stewards.

12.2 Allowance at Start Controls: A horse shall start with only the allowance of weight to which it is entitled at time of starting, regardless of its allowance at time of entry.

12.3 Allowance Denied: Horses incurring weight penalties for a race shall not be entitled to any weight allowance for that race. Horses not entitled to the first weight allowance in a race shall not be entitled to any subsequent allowance specified in the conditions.

12.4 Disqualification for Erroneous Allowance Claim: Claim of weight allowance to which a horse is not entitled shall not disqualify unless protest is made in writing and lodged with the Stewards at least one hour before post time.

12.5 Second or Lower Place: No horse shall incur a weight penalty or be barred from any race for not having been placed second or lower in any race, nor shall a horse be given a weight allowance for failure to finish second or lower in any race.

12.6 Beaten in Race: No horse shall receive allowance of weight nor be relieved of extra weight for having been beaten in one or more races, but this rule shall not prohibit maiden allowances or allowances to horses that have not run a race within a specified period or a race of a specified value.

12.7 Flat Allowances vis-a-vis Jumping Allowances: Penalties incurred and allowances due in steeplechase or hurdle races shall not apply to races on the flat, and vice versa.

12.8 Charts Considered: In determining eligibility, allowances and penalties, the reports, records and statistics as published in the Daily Racing Form and the monthly chart books, or corresponding official publications of any foreign country, shall be considered.

12.9 Win At Unrecognized Meet: Horses winning races at unrecognized meetings shall not be penalized for such winnings in races run thereafter in this state under these Rules. The maiden allowance, however, shall be lost by the winning of a race at any unrecognized meeting.

12.10 Fillies and Mares: Excepting in handicaps, fillies two years old shall be allowed three pounds, and fillies and mares three years old and upward shall be allowed five pounds before September 1, and three pounds thereafter.

12.11 Weights for Age -- Flat Racing: For racing on the flat, the following is the scale of weight for age, and shall be carried when not otherwise specified in the conditions of the race.

1/2 Mile

Six Furlongs

One Mile

One Mile

1-1/4 Miles

1-1/2 Miles

2 Miles

In races of intermediate lengths, the weights for the shorter distance shall be carried.

12.12 Weights for Age -- Jumping Races: For jumping races, the following is the scale of weights for age and shall be carried when not otherwise specified in the conditions of the race:

SCALE OF WEIGHTS FOR AGE

STEEPLECHASES

2 Miles

2 1/2 Miles

3 Miles and Over

HURDLE RACES

1 1/2 Miles

1 3/8 Miles

1 3/4 Miles

1 7/8 Miles

2 Miles

12.13 Jumping Races - Weight, Age, Distance, Jockeys:

12.14 Weigh Out - Jockeys Time: Jockeys shall be weighed out for their respective mounts by the Clerk of Scales not less than 15 minutes before post time.

12.15 Computation of Jockey's Weight: A Jockey's weight shall include his clothing, boots, goggles, saddle and its attachment, or any other equipment except riding crop, bridle, bit or reins, safety helmet, blinkers or number cloth.

12.16 Overweight Limit: Five pounds is the limit of overweight any horse is permitted to carry.

12.17 Weigh Out - Jockeys - Valets: Only Valets furnished by the Licensee shall assist Jockeys in weighing out.

12.18 Weigh in - Jockeys: After a race has been run, the Jockey shall ride promptly to the unsaddling area and, after requesting permission from the Stewards, shall there dismount and present himself to the Clerk of Scales to be weighed in. He shall carry over to the scales all pieces of equipment with which he weighed out.

12.19 Jockey Weight Differential: Each Jockey shall weigh in at the same weight as that at which he weighed out and, if short of it by more than two (2) pounds, his mount shall be disqualified.

12.20 Jockey Weight Differential Limit: No Jockey shall weigh in at more than two (2) pounds over the weight at which he weighed out, except insofar as said weight may have been affected by the elements.

12.21 Excuse From Weighing In: If a Jockey is prevented from riding his mount to the finish line because of an accident or illness either to himself or his horse, he may walk or be carried to the scales, or he may be excused by the Stewards from weighing in.