Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 178 - Racing Commission
Chapter 7891 - HORSES; PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Part 7891.0100 - RACING SOUNDNESS EXAMINATION

Universal Citation: MN Rules 7891.0100

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024

Subpart 1. Horses subject to examination.

A. For Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses:
(1) Every horse entered to race at a licensed racetrack under the jurisdiction of the commission shall be subjected to a veterinary examination for racing soundness and health on race day.

(2) Each horse must be identified by lip tattoo or microchip before the physical examination begins.

(3) The examination shall be conducted by a commission veterinarian in or near the stall to which the horse is assigned.

(4) The trainer of each horse or a representative of the trainer must present the horse for examination and move the horse as required by the examining veterinarian. Every horse to be examined must have had its legs cleaned of any poultice or other topical applications, must be free of leg bandages or be wearing bandages which are easily removed, and must not have been subjected within one hour of examination to freezing, icing, prolonged hosing with cold water, or any other means of reducing the temperature of the legs.

(5) The examination must include:
(a) identification by lip tattoo or microchip;

(b) visual inspection of the horse and assessment of overall body condition;

(c) manual palpation and passive flexion of forelimbs and, where indicated, hindlimbs;

(d) observation of the horse in motion; and

(e) other inspections deemed necessary by a commission veterinarian.

(6) If, during the prerace examination, a horse is determined to be unfit for competition, a commission veterinarian shall recommend to the stewards that the horse be scratched from racing and the horse placed on the veterinarian's list.

(7) Prerace examination findings must be documented in the InCompass Solutions electronic prerace examination module.

B. For Standardbreds:
(1) Every horse entered to participate in an official race shall be subjected to a veterinary inspection prior to starting in the race for which it is entered.

(2) The inspection shall be conducted by a commission veterinarian.

(3) The assessment of a horse's racing condition shall include:
(a) proper identification of each horse inspected;

(b) observation of each horse in motion during the post parade and warm-up mile;

(c) visual inspection of the entire horse and assessment of overall condition; and

(d) any other inspection deemed necessary by a commission veterinarian, including but not limited to manual palpation or manipulation of the limbs.

(4) If, during the examination, a horse is determined to be unfit for competition, a commission veterinarian shall recommend to the stewards that the horse be scratched from racing and the horse placed on the veterinarian's list.

Subp. 1a. Trainer must report location.

The trainer, when entering a horse, shall declare to the racing secretary or his or her designee the number of the barn in which the horse being entered will be stabled the day of the race. If the trainer will need a stall assigned for a ship-in horse, the trainer must so declare at the time of entry, and the racing secretary will assign a stall to be used on the day of the race.

Subp. 1b. Racing secretary must provide stall assignments.

As soon as the overnight sheet is finalized, the racing secretary or his or her designee shall provide to the commission veterinarian a list showing, by race, the name of the horse, the trainer, and the barn number where the horse is to be stabled the day of the race.

Subp. 1c. Trainer must post stall.

On each race day, trainers shall post a sign outside the entered horse's stall stating that the horse is "in today." The sign shall be posted by 8:00 a.m. on race day and must be removed after the horse has returned from racing on that day.

Subp. 2. Record of examination.

The commission veterinarian shall maintain a continuing health and racing soundness record of each horse examined. The record shall not constitute a veterinary medical record for purposes of part 9100.0800.

Statutory Authority: MS s 240.23; 240.24

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Minnesota may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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