Section 10. Definitions

Part I. Generally

The following words and terms when used in these regulations shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Assigned weight" means the weight carried by a horse specified in the conditions of the race or by the racing secretary and printed in the daily racing program.

"Dead heat" means the finish of a race by two horses or more at the same time.

"Finish wire" means a real or imaginary line from the position of the photo-finish camera to a point immediately across and at right angles to the racing surface.

"Flat racing" means horse racing conducted over a surface without obstacles and includes racing with mounted riders for Arabians, Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.

"Highweight handicap" means a handicap race in which the weight assigned to the top horse is not less than 140 pounds.

"Match race" means a race between two horses.

"Nonstarter" means a horse that fails to obtain a fair opportunity to start, as determined by the stewards, when the starter dispatches the horses.

"Official time" means the period from the time the first horse crosses the starting post until the first horse crosses under the finish wire.

"Overweight" means any weight of one pound or more over the assigned weight carried by a horse in a race.

"Place" means to finish second in a race.

"Post position" means the relative position assigned to each horse numbered from the inner rail across the track at the starting line, from which each horse is to start a race.

"Post time" means the advertised moment scheduled for the arrival of all horses at the starting post for a race.

"Produce race" means a race to be run by the produce of horses named or described in the conditions of the race at the time of entry.

"Purse race" means a race for money or other prize to which the owners of horses entered do not contribute a fee of more than $100.

"Race" means a contest among horses for a purse, prize or other reward, run at a race meeting licensed by the commission and in the presence of the stewards.

"Show" means to finish third in a race.

"Starter" means a horse that obtains a fair opportunity to start when the starter dispatches the horses.

"Starting post" means the starting point of a race.

"Underweight" means any weight less than the assigned weight carried by a horse in a race.

"Weigh in" means the presentation of a jockey to the clerk of scales for weighing after a race.

"Weigh out" means the presentation of a jockey to the clerk of scales for weighing prior to a race.

"Win" means to finish first in a race.

"Winner" means the horse whose nose reaches the finish wire first.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR662-05-01 § 1.1, eff. September 26, 1991; amended, Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002.

Statutory Authority

§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.