Title 9 Part 4207

Every track licensed by the commission shall have a straightaway of at least 440 yards in length, with a minimum width as may be fixed by the commission.

Races at distances shorter than 440 yards in length may be run, and races at longer distances up to 870 yards may be run, without the prior written approval of the commission.

All races must be started from a closed starting gate, set so that the horse's nose is exactly at the starting line.

Time shall be reported by an electric timing device approved by the commission.

Racing associations shall at all times maintain their race tracks in good condition and with special consideration for the comfort and safety of the public, of the horses stabled, exercising or entered to race thereat, and of all those whose business requires their attendance thereat; and to this end shall have available adequate and proper implements to maintain a uniform track weather conditions permitting.

Every racing association shall provide at a convenient location at its race track, a receiving barn with adequate stable room and facilities including hot and cold water, and ample stall bedding, such barn shall be at all times maintained in a clean and sanitary condition by an adequate force of attendants employed by the association, and each stall shall be thoroughly disinfected after each occupancy.

Racing associations shall install at their tracks and maintain flood lights to provide adequate illumination of the track and stable areas, and such patrol system as may be approved by the commission.

Racing associations shall install at the finish line at their tracks and shall adequately maintain two photo-finish cameras to be approved by the commission, holding one such camera in reserve for emergencies to automatically photograph the finish of races. The official photographer shall furnish promptly to the steward of the commission or the presiding judge two prints of every photo finish and a permanent file shall be kept of all such prints and the negative thereof.

Racing associations or corporations shall at all times during races furnish and maintain at their tracks the necessary cameras and equipment, as approved and directed by the commission, to produce motion pictures of every race from start to finish thereof. The films or tapes of all such motion pictures shall be retained by the respective racing associations or corporations for a period of not less than 18 months, and shall at all times be available to the commission.

Racing associations shall install at their tracks and adequately maintain electric or mechanical annunciators for the purpose of displaying the numbers of the placed horses at the conclusion of each race.

The erection of buildings, seating stands or other structures on the grounds of any racing association and the alteration or the removal of any thereof shall be made only with the written approval of the commission and the issuance of a permit therefor, after the filing with the commission of a description thereof, with plans showing the detail of the same and a detailed statement of the cost thereof.

Racing associations shall furnish and maintain at least one man ambulance and at least one horse ambulance each day that their tracks may be open for racing or exercising horses, equipped ready for immediate duty, and to be placed at an entrance to the racing strip so that no time may be lost in answering calls.

Each racing association shall have present an emergency medical technician in a designated place in the public area of the track for first aid and emergency needs during all times that the general public is admitted to the tracks. Each racing association shall also be equipped with an ambulance certified by the Department of Health and an attendant during all times that the general public is admitted to the track. Nothing in this section shall relieve any racing association of the duty to comply with 10 NYCRR Part 18 mandating emergency health care requirements at public functions.

Each racing association shall make such sanitary arrangements as baths, toilets, or other accommodations for the use of jockeys, as may be reasonably required by the commission, the same to be conveniently located on the grounds.

Each racing association shall provide proper and well located boxes or pits for separately receiving stable manure and other refuse, situated well distant from any living quarters, and such boxes and pits shall be emptied and their contents entirely removed from the premises of the association daily except Sundays.

Each racing association shall on every racing day provide and maintain in a strictly sanitary condition such adequate toilets and facilities for furnishing drinking water for its patrons and persons having business at the track, as may be reasonably required by the commission.

Racing associations shall make no charge for stall rental during the conduct of a race meeting at their premises, except in the case of leases or other contracts relating to special facilities for stabling, and such leased or contracted facilities shall be made available to horsemen whenever they are not occupied by the tenant, upon reasonable notice to the tenant.

Racing associations under the direction of the American Quarter Horse Association shall institute and diligently maintain a system of horse identification and physical examination.

Racing associations shall exclude from the paddocks, in the interest of public safety and security all those persons who have no immediate business with the horses entered, except the members of the commission, its staff and special representatives and those having special permission from the association or the track steward.

Stands for judges, timers and stewards shall be maintained in positions commanding an uninterrupted view of the entire racing strip and shall be subject to approval by the commission.

All devices pertaining to racing which are used on race tracks must be approved in writing by the commission before installation and shall not be removed except with the written consent of the commission.

Post time of the first race at each meeting must be approved in writing by the chairman.

Each racing association conducting a race meeting shall supply daily to the commission a report of the following: purse distribution; and such other data as may be required by the commission. The blank forms for this purpose will be supplied by the commission.

All persons found making book on the races at any track shall be barred therefrom by the association operating the same, for not less than the duration of the meeting, and a memorandum thereof forthwith transmitted to the commission and to the district attorney of the county in which the offense has been committed.

No person who is known or reputed to be a bookmaker or a vagrant within the meaning of the statutes of the State of New York, or a fugitive from justice, or whose conduct at a race track in New York or elsewhere, is or has been improper, obnoxious, unbecoming or detrimental to the best interests of racing, shall enter or remain upon the premises of any licensed association conducting a race meeting under the jurisdiction of the commission; and all such persons shall upon discovery or recognition be forthwith ejected.

Racing associations shall promptly give to the commission and to the State Tax Department such information in writing as either may request from time to time and shall freely and fully cooperate with them in every way.

Any person going upon the racing strip or any part thereof or into the winners' enclosure, at any time between 15 minutes before post time of the first race and 15 minutes after the finish of the last race on the day's program without the permission of the judges or steward, shall be ejected promptly from the premises of the association.

Minors under 16 years of age shall not be admitted to the public area of a quarter horse race track where pari-mutuel betting is conducted unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Minors 16 years of age or older may be admitted at all meetings whenever held.