23 CAR § 357-308 – Official Starter

(a) Only the Official Starter or a deputy approved by the Official Starter and by the stewards may start a race.
(b) The Official Starter shall give all orders and take all measures necessary to ensure a fair start.
(c)
1. (1) The stewards’ decision as to the validity of a start shall be final.
2. (2) Likewise, the stewards’ decision as to whether or not a horse was locked in the gate shall be final.
3. (3) The stewards’ decisions shall be made in consultation with the Official Starter.
(d) The Official Starter may appoint the Official Starter's assistants, subject to the approval of the stewards.
(e)
1. (1) Horses are in the hands of the Official Starter from the moment they enter the track on the way from the paddock to post.
2. (2) They remain in the Official Starter's hands until off time.
(f) In case the alignment of the horses at the post is delayed, the Official Starter may permit jockeys to dismount and their mounts to be attended.
(g)
1. (1) If after reaching the starting post a horse is so badly injured as to make it impractical or impossible for the horse to run in a race, the Official Starter may, in the interest of saving time, excuse that horse, but must notify the stewards before the Official Starter starts the race.
2. (2) Any horse so excused shall to all intents and purposes be considered as excused by the stewards.
(h) Horses shall take their positions in numerical order from the inside rail, that order to be determined by post positions.
(i) All flat races shall be started out of a stall gate.
(j) The start shall not be unduly delayed on account of bad mannered horses.
(k) The Official Starter shall maintain a schooling list, and all horses placed by the Official Starter on said list shall be required to school to barrier or starting gate under the personal supervision of the Official Starter or the Official Starter's assistants.
(l) Only the Official Starter shall have the authority to designate the horses named to the schooling list.
(m) The Official Starter shall file a copy of the schooling list with the Racing Secretary.
(n) The Official Starter shall report to the Racing Secretary as soon as a horse on the list has been schooled sufficiently to be permitted to start.
(o) A horse will not be eligible to start until the Official Starter orders the name stricken from the Official Starter's schooling list.
(p) The stewards and the Arkansas Racing Commission may fine or suspend a jockey for disobedience of orders, for attempting to gain an unfair advantage, or for otherwise violating this part.
(q) Neither the Official Starter nor the Official Starter's assistants shall mistreat or use abusive language to a jockey.
(r) The Official Starter's approval must be obtained of the starting ability for all horses that have never started at a recognized meeting.
(s)
1. (1) A false start is void, and the horses shall be started again as soon as practical.
2. (2) Any horse running the course from a false start may be excused from the true race by the stewards.
(t) If a horse is locked in the gate or if the Official Starter excuses a horse from a race, the Official Starter shall immediately notify the stewards, who in turn shall immediately notify the manager of the Pari-mutuel Department.