New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 15 - GAMBLING AND LIQUOR CONTROL
Chapter 2 - HORSE RACING
Part 5 - HORSE RACE - RULES OF THE RACE
Section 15.2.5.13 - RUNNING OF THE RACE

(1) All riding crops are subject to inspection and approval by the stewards and the clerk of scales. This rule will become effective December 10, 2010.

(2) No bridle shall exceed two pounds.

(3) Reins. No jockey, apprentice jockey, exercise person or any person mounted on a horse shall ride, breeze, exercise, gallop or workout a horse on the grounds of a facility under the jurisdiction of the commission unless the horse is equipped with a nylon rein or a safety rein. A safety rein is a rein with a wire or nylon cord stitched into the traditional leather rein during the manufacturing process and the safety cord is attached to the bit with a metal clasp.

(4) Toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters worn on the front shoes of thoroughbred horses while racing are prohibited. The horse shall be scratched and the trainer may be subject to fine.

(5) A horse's tongue may be tied down with clean bandages, gauze or tongue strap.

(6) No licensee may add blinkers to a horse's equipment or discontinue their use without the prior approval of the starter, the paddock judge, and the stewards.

(7) No licensee may change any equipment used on a horse in its last race without approval of the paddock judge or stewards.

(8) Any licensed assistant starter and any licensee mounted on a horse or stable pony on the association grounds must wear a properly fastened New Mexico racing commission approved protective helmet and safety vest.

(1) Each horse shall carry a conspicuous saddle cloth number corresponding to the official number given that horse on the official program.

(2) In the case of a coupled entry that includes more than one horse, each horse in the entry shall carry the same number, with a different distinguishing letter following the number. As an example, two horses in the same entry shall appear in the official program as 1 and 1A.

(3) Each horse in the mutuel field shall carry a separate number or may carry the same number with a distinguishing letter following the number.

(1) Jockeys shall report to the jockeys' quarters at the time designated by the association. Jockeys shall report their engagements and any overweight to the clerk of scales. Jockeys shall not leave the jockeys' quarters, except to ride in scheduled races, until all of their riding engagements of the day have been fulfilled except as approved by the stewards.

(2) A jockey who has not fulfilled all riding engagements, who desires to leave the jockeys' quarters, must first receive the permission of the stewards and must be accompanied by an association security guard.

(3) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a jockey engaged for a certain race or for a specified time may not fail or refuse to abide by the engagement agreement, unless excused by the stewards. Failure to fulfill riding engagements may result in disciplinary action.

(4) A jockey may be excused by the stewards from fulfilling the jockey's riding engagement if the jockey believes the horse he or she is to ride is unsafe, or the racecourse he or she is to ride on is unsafe, or the jockey is ill or injured, or other extenuating circumstances. No jockey may take off a mount for reasons of safety without first mounting and taking that horse to the track and/or commission veterinarian unless that horse is unruly in the paddock. In that event a jockey's fee is not earned.

(5) Any jockey unseated or thrown from their mount in the saddling paddock, during the parade to post, while being loaded in the starting gate, during the race, or after the race, may be required by the stewards to be examined by the paramedic, doctor or registered nurse before being allowed to ride. Refusal to be examined or receive medical treatment may be grounds for the stewards to take the rider off their mount for that race and any other races on that day. In the event the jockey is injured or unable to ride they shall be required to provide a doctor's medical release before they are allowed to resume participation in racing or training.

(6) The stewards may require a jockey who is excused from fulfilling a riding engagement, because of illness or injury, to pass a physical examination conducted by a licensed physician not employed by the association before resuming race riding.

(7) While in the jockeys' quarters, jockeys shall have no contact or communication with any person outside the jockeys' quarters other than commission personnel and officials, an owner or trainer for whom the jockey is riding or a representative of the regular news media, except with the permission of the stewards. Any communication permitted by the stewards may be conducted only in the presence of the clerk of scales or other person designated by the stewards.

(8) Jockeys shall be weighed out for their respective mounts by the clerk of scales not more than 30 minutes before post time for each race.

(9) A jockey's fee shall be considered earned when the jockey is weighed out by the clerk of scales. In the event an owner or trainer elects to remove a jockey from his or her mount after naming a rider at the time of draw, the stewards may require a double jockey fee to be paid. The fee to be paid is equal to that earned by the jockey who rode the horse. The fee shall not be considered earned when a jockey(s), of their own free will, take themselves off their mounts, where injury to the horse or rider is not involved. Any conditions or considerations not covered by the above rule shall be at the discretion of the stewards. All jockey protests must be filed prior to the race.

(10) A jockey's fee shall include any extra monies added to the purse.

(11) Only valets employed by the association shall assist jockeys in weighing out.

(12) A jockey's weight shall include their clothing, boots, saddle and its attachments and any other equipment except the whip, bridle, bit or reins, safety helmet, safety vest, blinkers, goggles and number cloth. Upon the stewards' approval, jockeys may be allowed up to three pounds more than published and announced weights to account for inclement weather clothing and equipment when weighing in.

(13) Five pounds is the limit of overweight any horse is permitted to carry.

(14) Once jockeys have fulfilled their riding engagements for the day and have left the jockeys' quarters, they shall not be re-admitted to the jockeys' quarters until after the entire racing program for that day has been completed, except with permission of the stewards.

(1) 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.

(2) In the post parade, all pony persons, or trainers who pony horses, must wear upper body apparel in accordance with the policy of the commission.

(3) After the horses enter the track, no jockey may dismount nor entrust his horse to the care of an attendant unless, because of accident occurring to the jockey, the horse or the equipment, and with the prior consent of the starter. During any delay during which a jockey is permitted to dismount, all other jockeys may dismount and their horses may be attended by others. After the horses enter the track, only the jockey, an assistant starter, the official veterinarian, the racing veterinarian or an outrider or pony rider may touch the horse before the start of the race.

(4) If a jockey is seriously injured on the way to the post, the horse may be returned to the paddock and a replacement jockey obtained.

(5) 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.

(6) In case of accident to a jockey or their mount or equipment, the stewards or the starter may permit the jockey to dismount and the horse to be cared for during the delay, and may permit all jockeys to dismount and all horses to be attended to during the delay.

(7) If a jockey is thrown on the way from the paddock to the post, the horse must be remounted, returned to the point where the jockey was thrown 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.

(8) 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.

(9) No person shall willfully delay the arrival of a horse at the post.

(10) The starter shall load horses into the starting gate in any order deemed necessary to ensure a safe and fair start. An appointed representative may tail the horse with the starter's consent. In case of an emergency, the starter may grant approval for a horse to be tailed. In any case, the stewards shall be notified of who is tailing horses.

(1) The start.

(2) Interference, jostling or striking.

(3) Maintaining a straight course.

(4) Disqualification.

(5) Horses shall be ridden out: All horses shall be ridden out in every race. A jockey shall not ease up or coast to the finish, without adequate cause, even if the horse has no apparent chance to win prize money.

(6) No electrical, mechanical or other expedient object or device utilized to increase or retard the speed of a horse, other than the riding crop approved by the stewards, shall be possessed by anyone or applied by anyone to the horse at any time on the grounds of the association during the meet, whether in a race or otherwise.

(7) Use of riding crops.

(8) Indiscriminate use of the whip is prohibited including whipping a horse: on the head, flanks or on any other part of its body other than the shoulders or hind quarters except when necessary to control a horse; during the post parade or after the finish of the race except when necessary to control the horse; excessively or brutally causing welts or breaks in the skin; when the horse is clearly out of the race or has obtained its maximum placing; persistently even though the horse is showing no response under the riding crop; or striking another rider or horse. Excessive use of the crop includes:

(9) Returning after the finish.

(10) Unsaddling. No person shall assist a jockey with unsaddling except with permission of the stewards and no one shall place a covering over a horse before it is unsaddled.

(11) Weighing in.

(12) Dead heats.