1. (a)

   1. (1) All owners, trainers, jockeys, jockey agents, handlers, attendants, employees of a stable or franchise holder, and all other persons, firms, associations, or corporations patronizing or participating in a race meeting are subject to the laws of the State of Arkansas and the rules promulgated by the Arkansas Racing Commission, and all such persons, firms, associations, or corporations shall abide by said laws and the rules of the commission.
   2. (2) Further, said persons, firms, associations, or corporations shall abide by the decisions of the racing officials on any and all questions to which their authority extends.

2. (b)

   1. (1) All applications for licenses and registrations to participate in racing shall be filed with the commission on forms supplied by it or by a national licensing organization.
   2. (2) No owner shall be eligible to start a horse unless his or her completed license application is on file in the Racing Commission Office, Oaklawn Jockey Club, no later than 3:00 p.m. central time the day before the race, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Stewards.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The appropriate fees shall accompany each application.
   2. (2) Licenses may be issued for one (1) or three (3) years.
   3. (3) Such license or registration shall expire December 31 of the year of expiration.
4. (d) No application for a license or registration shall be approved, and no license or registration will be issued by the commission unless satisfactory evidence is first presented that the applicant will participate in the race meeting for which the license or registration is sought.

5. (e)

   1. (1) All applications for licenses and for registrations must be approved by the stewards of the race meeting before any action on the application will be taken by the commission.
   2. (2) Before approving any application for a license or registration, it shall be the duty of the stewards to ascertain whether the applicant or registrant is qualified as to ability and integrity for the license or registration sought either by oral or written examination.
6. (f) In considering each application for a license, the stewards of the race meeting or the authorized representatives of the commission may require the applicant as well as his or her endorsers to appear before them and show that said applicant is qualified in every respect to receive their recommendation for the granting of the license.

7. (g)

   1. (1) Any person to whom a license has been issued by the commission may have his or her license revoked due to corrupt, fraudulent, or improper practices or conduct on the part of the licensee.
   2. (2) All licenses granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in the application therefor, and the commission shall have full discretion to suspend or revoke the same for any infraction of the conditions of the application for license and the rules of the commission.

8. (h)

   1. (1) The following persons shall secure a license from the commission and the annual fee shall be as follows: Owner $60.00 Partnership $60.00 Stable Name $60.00 Trainer/Asst. Trainer $55.00 Jockey/App. Jockey/Jockey Agent $55.00 Veterinarian $45.00 Authorized Agent $38.00 Horseshoer $35.00 Employee $ 5.00
   2. (2) Any person employed on the grounds of a franchise holder by the franchise holder or its lessees, or by any concession licensed or permitted to operate on the grounds of the franchise holder must secure an employee license from the commission, and the issuance of such licenses will begin the week prior to the opening of the race meeting.
   3. (3) The following must be registered annually with the commission, and the fee payable for such registration shall be as follows: Stable Names $20.00 Partnership or Corporation $20.00
   4. (4) Each owner, member of a partnership which is licensed as an owner, stockholder, or member of a corporation which is licensed as an owner, and registrant for stable name shall, simultaneously with the filing of an application for such license or registration of such stable name, also register the colors used by such owner, partnership, corporation, or stable.

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Any person to whom a license has been issued by the commission and whose duties require that such person have access to the stable area shall have a photographic identification on his or her person at all times while in the area.
      2. (B) All other persons must obtain a visitor’s pass from the commission before entering the stable area.
      3. (C) Persons failing to have a photographic identification badge or failing to obtain a visitor's pass before entering the stable area are subject to ejection from the grounds and/or to fine, suspension, or ruling off.
      4. (D) The identification system for licensed personnel shall consist of:

9. (i) A tamper-proof badge containing the name of the track, the year of issue, color photograph of the individual to whom issued, his or her name, his or her position or occupation, the signature of said individual, the date the badge was issued, and any other pertinent information which the commission may require; and

   1. (ii)
10. (a) (a) The commission shall keep a list of the names of the individuals to whom photographic identification badges have been issued, the date of the issue, and the position or occupation of each individual.

11. (b) (b) Replacement for a lost or mutilated badge is five dollars ($5.00).

    1. (c) (c) A visitor's pass shall consist of a numbered, laminated badge, with clasp, to be worn in plain view.

       1. (d) (d) A log of all persons to whom a visitor's pass has been issued shall be maintained by track security at the main stable gate.

          1. (i) No license shall be issued by the commission to any person who:
    2. (1) Owns, operates, or has an interest in any bookmaking, pool selling, or other illegal enterprise, or who is or has been connected with or associated with any person engaged in bookmaking, pool selling, or other illegal enterprise;
    3. (2) Has been convicted or found guilty of a crime, excluding minor traffic offenses (provided, the commission may, in its discretion, grant a license where the applicant has been found guilty of a crime);
    4. (3) Is unqualified, by experience or otherwise, to perform the duties required of such applicant;
    5. (4) Has been or is habitually intoxicated or addicted to drugs;
    6. (5) Fails to disclose the true ownership or interest in any and all thoroughbred horses, as required by the commission (provided, the commission may, in its discretion, grant a license in such circumstances where the commission finds that the failure to disclose was not intentional or the applicant rectifies the failure to disclose to the satisfaction of the commission);
    7. (6) Makes misrepresentations or false statements in the applicant's application for a license (provided, the commission may, in its discretion, grant a license in such circumstances where the commission finds that the misrepresentation or false statement was not intentional or the applicant rectifies the misrepresentation or false statement to the satisfaction of the commission);
    8. (7) Is engaged in any activity or practice that is undesirable or detrimental to the best interest of the public and the sport of racing; or
    9. (8) Is less than sixteen (16) years of age.

12. (j)

    1. (1) An applicant desiring to practice veterinary medicine at a racetrack in Arkansas must present the applicant's Arkansas veterinary license certificate and/or copy of the applicant's current year's renewal certificate indicating that the applicant holds an active license to practice veterinary medicine in Arkansas.

    2. (2)

       1. (A) If the applicant holds a Drug Enforcement Administration number, it must be listed on the application.
       2. (B) Every veterinary license is issued by the commission on the condition that the commission may inform the Arkansas Board of Animal Health of any irregular conduct involving any licensed veterinarian that might influence the Arkansas Board of Animal Health in issuing, suspending, or revoking a license to practice veterinary medicine.
       3. (C) The commission, on request, shall furnish the Arkansas Board of Animal Health a list of all veterinarians receiving a license to practice at any Arkansas racetrack.

13. (k) The commission may require the registration of any agreement between participants in racing.

    1. (l)
    2. (1) The commission and the stewards may order that any person be tested for illegal drug usage at the time the person applies for a license.
    3. (2) The commission and the stewards may order that any licensee be tested for illegal drugs on a random or for-cause basis.
    4. (3) Licensees testing positive for illegal drugs are subject to fine, suspension, probation, or revocation of their license.
    5. (4) Persons applying for a license who test positive for illegal drugs may, at the discretion of the commission, be granted a probationary license if they enroll in a drug treatment or counseling program approved by the commission.
    6. (5) Otherwise, such persons shall not be eligible for licensure.

Codification Notes: The Veterinary Medical Examining Board was abolished by Acts 2023, No. 691.