Rule amended: Section 109
- The PHILRACOM Board amends Section 109 of the Horseracing Rules and Regulations on Acts and/or Omissions by Jockeys.
- Section 109 imposes penalties for jockey violations in three time frames: before the race, during the race, and after the race.
- The amended Section 109 also includes miscellaneous acts with corresponding suspensions or fines.
Structure of offenses and penalties
- The penalties in Section 109 apply based on the jockey’s act and the applicable stage (before, during, after, or miscellaneous).
- Many penalties are expressed as a minimum suspension (e.g., at least one (1) racing week) or a suspension range.
- Many penalties also allow a fine “at the discretion of the Board of Stewards” or impose a fine that accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Where revocation or banning is stated, the sanction is imposed as specified for the particular offense.
Before-race jockey violations
- Failure to report excess assigned weight for the horse he rides is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week.
- Declaring to ride in more than ten (10) races in one week-end racing day and more than eight (8) rides for night racing, and not correcting the fault before the first race of the day, is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) at the discretion of the Board of Stewards.
- Failure to submit weighing out before the time fixed in accordance with Section 32.0 is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of P500.00.
- Refusing to wear racing colors for the race without justifiable reasons (as determined by the Board of Stewards, as provided for the trainer) is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00).
- Not being fully dressed or changing his blouse in full view of the public is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) at the discretion of the Stewards.
- Not keeping his assigned place at the starting apparatus, unless permitted by the starter, is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week.
- Being absent from the jockey’s quarters two (2) races before his ride is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week.
- Communicating, talking, or having contact with persons other than PHILRACOM or club officials upon leaving the saddling enclosure or paddock until the finish of the race is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks.
- Refusing to obey the orders of the starter is penalized by suspension of at least two (2) racing weeks.
- Non-observance of the rule governing the starting apparatus before and during the start of the race is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week.
- Failure to report for medical check up before every ride is penalized as follows:
- First offense: fine of P200.00
- Second offense: fine of P500.00
- Third and succeeding offenses: suspension of one (1) racing day
- Non-appearance or refusal to ride a duly signed declared entry without justifiable cause is penalized by an indefinite suspension of not less than four (4) racing weeks or a fine of not less than P1,000.00, or both.
- Failure to be properly attired or in proper uniform is penalized by a fine of P500.00.
- Failure to employ the required cincha and surcingle is penalized by a fine of P500.00.
- Failure to report any untoward incident to the starter regarding his mount is penalized by a fine of P500.00.
- Unruly behaviour or conduct of his helper/s is penalized by a fine of P500.00.
- Creating a situation that results in horses being scratched or forced to have a jockey-change due to overweight is penalized on a numbered-offense scale (per ride basis) as follows:
- 1st offense: fine of P500.00
- 2nd offense: suspension of one (1) racing day
- 3rd offense: suspension of two (2) racing days
- 4th offense: suspension of four (4) racing days
- 5th offense: suspension of eight (8) racing days
- 6th offense: suspension of twenty-six (26) racing weeks
- The overweight-scratch/jockey-change suspensions for that offense are counted on a per ride basis, such that a jockey scratched three (3) times in one racing day due to overweight is suspended as if he committed three (3) offenses.
- A jockey who does not commit an overweight violation within twelve (12) months after serving a suspension is treated as having a clean slate, with prior overweight suspensions negated, and future overweight violations restarting from 1st offense.
- Failure to carry his whip properly is penalized by a fine of P500.00 which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Not parading in numerical order before the Judges’ stand on the way to the starting apparatus is penalized by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00).
- Refusing to ride his declared entry in the last race of an exotic betting scheme for unjustifiable excuse is penalized by a suspension of at least twenty-six (26) racing weeks.
- Refusing to mount a horse declared to ride despite certification from the club and PHILRACOM Veterinarians that the horse is fit to run results in no suspension for the jockey, but the horse is indefinitely suspended subject to further examination and certification by PHILRACOM and Club Veterinarians.
- A jockey during the parade must report to the B.O.S. through the starter any abnormality he feels and must ask for a re-inspection of his mount.
- Failure to report an abnormality during the parade is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks for negligence.
During-race jockey violations
- Unnecessarily brandishing, threatening, or waving his whip or hand during the race, or grandstanding is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00).
- Losing a race due to carelessness and/or over confidence and/or not obtaining the best possible position is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week to ten (10) racing weeks.
- Not allowing his horse to run on its own merits, and/or not obtaining the best possible placing, and/or lack of interest is penalized by suspension of from eleven (11) racing weeks to twenty six (26) racing weeks.
- Relaxing or pulling his mount before crossing the finish line, without prejudice to the betting public, is penalized by suspension of two (2) racing weeks or a fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the Board of Stewards.
- Threatening to cross or weave in front of another so as to actually impede it is penalized by suspension of not more than twenty six (26) racing days.
- Deliberately bumping or jostling another horse towards the inner or outer rail is penalized by suspension of not more than twenty-six (26) racing weeks.
- Deliberately striking, pushing, holding, or otherwise detaining another horse or jockey is penalized by suspension of not more than twenty six (26) racing months.
- Losing a race deliberately in any manner whatsoever is penalized by:
- One-year suspension, or
- One-year suspension with a recommendation of revocation of license, depending on the gravity of the offense.
- Exchanging, borrowing, or grabbing any racing equipment from any participating jockey during the course of the race is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks.
- Not carrying the whip in his hand or tucking it in his belt, hip pocket, or boot, or otherwise bringing it in a manner other than as the rule prescribes, is penalized by a minimum fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Using his whip in an unorthodox or unusual manner to impede or obstruct another entry is penalized by suspension of at least two (2) racing weeks.
- Crossing, bumping, or jostling another entry while coming out of the starting gate, within the first fifty (50) meters of the race, is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week.
- A jockey who jumps from his mount intentionally to lose the race is given a suspension of at least one (1) year and/or revocation of his license upon recommendation by the Board of Stewards.
- Riding a declared entry without previously exercising it, unless he is a just replacement jockey, is penalized by suspension of two (2) racing weeks.
After-race sanctions
- Punishing his horse unnecessarily or committing undue act or cruelty upon it after the end of the race is penalized by suspension of at least one (1) racing week or a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00).
- Failure to salute after placing first, second, third, or fourth when crossing the Judges’ Stand after the race is penalized by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Having less weight of more than 100 grams when weighed after the race, where he did not finish first, second, or third, is penalized by a fine of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Leaving the weighing machine before his weight has been verified is penalized by suspension of at least two (2) racing weeks.
- Having less than the assigned weight after the race and finishing first is penalized by:
- minimum suspension of one (1) year, or
- banning from participating in future races.
- Where the jockey with less than the assigned weight finished first, second, third, or fourth, the sanction is suspension of at least twenty-six (26) racing weeks.
- Refusing, when required, to be weighed after the race when he did not finish first, second, third, or fourth is penalized by suspension of at least ten (10) racing weeks.
- A jockey who refuses to be weighed immediately after the end of the race after finishing first, second, third, or fourth is penalized by revocation of license.
- Having involved in fraudulent combinations or fixed races is penalized by suspension of at least twenty-six (26) racing weeks.
- Failure to inform the owner and/or trainer concerned of any suspension or order regarding the horse he rode is penalized by suspension of two (2) racing weeks and/or a fine of P1,000.00 which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- Using any of his riding paraphernalia to complete his required handicap weight is penalized by a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00).
- A jockey caught carrying an electronic device or apparatus immediately after the race is penalized at least twenty-six (26) racing weeks in accordance with Section 107 par. F.
Miscellaneous prohibited acts
- Disorderly conduct during a racing day is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks.
- Entering the jockey’s compound or saddling enclosure without having a mount to ride is penalized by suspension of at least ten (10) racing weeks; if already under suspension, the jockey is subject to an additional suspension of twenty-six (26) racing weeks.
- Possessing or wearing spurs other than those previously submitted to and approved by the PHILRACOM, and other devices aside from the rosettes, blinkers, elastic bandages, and defense against abrasion as standard equipment, with the intention of forcing, stimulating, or urging his horse is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks.
- Dismounting or alighting from his mount at the starting gate without justifiable cause or without the express permission of the Starter or Board of Stewards is penalized by suspension of one (1) racing week.
- Failure to use standard whip measuring 28 inches or less from tip to tip is penalized by a fine of P500.00 which accrues to the PHILRACOM.
- A jockey suspended three (3) times within any period of three hundred sixty five (365) days from the date of his first offense, where the penalty imposed for each offense is a suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks, is given an additional penalty of twenty-six (26) racing weeks suspension for any succeeding offenses committed within the same period, provided the offense is penalized by a suspension of at least five racing weeks.
- A jockey found positive for any prohibited drugs after confirmation by the Dangerous Drugs Board is banned for life from participating in any races and from exercising and riding horses within the premises of any racing clubs.
- A jockey caught in possession of prohibited drugs is sent to police authorities for investigation and prosecution.
- Possession of unauthorized racing equipment or paraphernalia, other than that approved by PHILRACOM, is penalized by suspension of at least five (5) racing weeks.
- An act contrary to good, fair and just racing conduct during the race that is not covered or penalized under existing racing rules is penalized at the discretion of the Board of Stewards by suspension of at least two (2) racing weeks.