Section 100. Post parade

All horses shall parade past the stewards' stand and carry their assigned weight from the paddock to the starting post, unless excused by the stewards from the post parade. The following provisions shall apply to post parades:

1. The stewards, in their discretion, may excuse a horse from the post parade;

2. Any horse excused from the post parade shall be led by an employee of the owner or trainer and shall carry its assigned weight from the paddock to the starting post;

3. After passing the stewards' stand during the post parade, the horses may leave the parade to walk, canter or otherwise warm up on their way to the starting post;

4. The post parade shall not exceed 12 minutes from the time the field enters the racing surface until reaching the starting post, except for unavoidable delays;

5. If a jockey is thrown from a horse during the post parade, he shall remount the horse at the point where he was thrown from the horse;

6. If a jockey is injured during the post parade or a substitute jockey is needed, then the horse shall be returned to the paddock where the horse shall be mounted by the substitute jockey;

7. If a horse leaves the racing surface during the post parade, the horse shall be returned to the racing surface at the nearest practical point to where it left the course and then complete the post parade; and

8. No person shall willfully delay the arrival of a horse at the starting post.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR662-05-01 § 2.9, eff. September 26, 1991.

Statutory Authority

§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.