Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 038 - Wyoming Gaming Commission
Sub-Agency 0001 - Pari-Mutuel
Chapter 5 - OFFICIALS
Section 5-15 - Starter

(a) Only the Starter, or a deputy approved by the Starter, the Stewards and the Commission, may start a race.

(b) The Starter shall give all orders and take all measures necessary to insure a fair start.

(c) The Starter's decision as to the validity of a start shall be final; likewise, his decision as to whether or not a horse was locked in the gate shall be final.

(d) The Starter may appoint his assistants subject to the approval of the Stewards and the Commission; however, no assistant starter shall be a person owning or having any interest in any horse eligible to race at the meeting nor any person having any interest in the result of any race or be or have been the employee of any such person during the progress of the event, unless approved by the Stewards and/or the Commission.

(e) No person shall give to any Starter or Assistant Starter, nor shall any Starter or Assistant Starter receive money, anything of value, or other compensation for their services in connection with the running of any race. No Starter or Assistant Starter shall bet on any race or engage in any betting transaction. This rule has no application to salaries received from Permittee.

(f) In case the alignment of the horses at the post is delayed, the Starter may permit the jockeys to dismount and their mounts to be attended.

(g) If after reaching the starting post, a horse is so badly injured as to make it impractical or impossible for him to run in a race, the Starter or Commission Veterinarian, may with the approval of the Stewards excuse that horse. If a horse is excused, the "Start" must be delayed until the mutuel department is notified and a change of "Odds" is made.

(h) The Starter is required to load horses into the starting gate in order of post position except in cases of emergency or by prior permission of the Stewards.

(i) If the Starter or his assistants are unable after reasonable efforts to place a horse in the gate for a satisfactory start or if the horse is mean or unruly, the Starter may order that horse placed outside the gate, one full length behind the starting line. The horse shall be denied the right of future entry until reinstated by the Starter or Stewards.

(j) The Starter shall maintain a schooling list and all horses shall be schooled at or in the starting gate, if and when required, under the personal supervision of the starter.

(k) Only the Starter or Stewards shall have the authority to designate the horses which shall be placed on the schooling list.

(l) A horse will not be eligible to start until the Starter orders the name stricken from the schooling list.

(m) The Starter shall file a copy of the schooling list with the Racing Secretary. The list must be prominently displayed.

(n) The Starter may fine a jockey for disobedience of orders or for attempting an unfair advantage or for creating a disturbance before the "Start", but the fine shall not exceed $200.00.

(o) The Starter's authority to fine begins when horses arrive at the gate and ends at "Off-Time". All infractions noted by the starter after "Off-Time" shall be reported immediately to the Stewards.

(p) The Starter shall report in writing to the Stewards and to the Racing Secretary all fines which he has imposed and no fines reported shall be modified other than by the authority of the Commission.

(q) Neither the Starter nor his assistants shall mistreat or use abusive language to a jockey. Violators are subject to disciplinary action by the Stewards.

(r) The Starter's approval of the starting ability of all two-year olds must be obtained before they are permitted to start. He must state whether whip and/or blinkers were used in schooling.

(s) The Starter's approval must be obtained for all older horses that have never started at a recognized meeting.

(t) A false start is void and the horses shall be started again as soon as practical. Any horse running the course from a false start may be excused from the true race by the Stewards.

(u) If a horse is locked in the gate, the Starter shall immediately notify the Stewards who, in turn, shall immediately notify the Manager of the mutuel department. The Starter shall be the sole judge of what horse or horses are prevented from starting in a race through failure of gates to open.