PHILRACOM Resolution No. 71-16

December 16, 2016

PHILRACOM RESOLUTION NO. 71-16

Excerpts from the minutes of the meeting of the Board of the Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) held on 16 December 2016 at 4th Floor Electra House Bldg., Esteban St., Makati City.

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 420, the Commission has exclusive jurisdiction and control over all aspects of the conduct of horse racing, including the framing and scheduling of races, the construction and safety of horse racing, the allocation of prizes, and the security of racing;

WHEREAS, the Commission is also given by the said Decree the specific power, among others, to prescribe additional rules and regulations not otherwise inconsistent with it and to impose fines, penalties and forfeitures to erring parties under the rules and regulations of the Commission, which fines, penalties and forfeitures shall accrue to the funds of the Commission;

WHEREAS, the Commission received numerous reports regarding the problem created by the refusal of jockeys to ride the horse during race days;

WHEREAS, the Commission conducted consultation with the stakeholders in order to find ways to address the said problem;

WHEREAS, the New Philippine Jockeys' Association, Inc. in letter dated December 06, 2016 recommended the amendment of certain provisions of the Rules and Regulations on Horse Racing as a means to address the problems;

NOW THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED as it is hereby RESOLVED that Unit II, Chapter 3 of the Rules and Regulations on Horse Racing be amended as follows:

"PR 29-E. SUBSTITUTION OF A JOCKEY

Substitution of a declared jockey is mandatory in cases of accidents, illnesses or incapacity of a jockey, overweight as certified by the Clerk of Scales, any valid or justifiable reason as requested by the owner or trainer approved by the Board of Stewards, (As per Board Resolution No. 29-14) and/or other justifiable reasons as determine by the Board of Stewards. In cases wherein the owner, trainer or authorized representative fails to appear before the Board of Stewards for a change of jockey despite three (3) summonses, the Board shall have the authority to withdraw the horse from the race. In case a jockey is unable to ride due to illness which does not require immediate medical attention, the jockey shall be required to stay at the clinic of the racing club until his last scheduled ride for the racing day, unless the physician advises the jockey to go home and rest. After his last scheduled ride or upon the advice of the physician, the jockey shall immediately proceed to go home and is prohibited from staying within the premises of the racing club.

1. In case wherein, after leaving the saddling paddock, the jockey refuses to mount the horse that has been certified by the veterinarians as fit to race, a substitution of jockey shall be allowed provided that the trainer and replacement rider shall execute a waiver of liability. (As per Board Resolution No. 09-15) (However, if no change is made, no penalty shall be imposed on the original rider and the horse. Deleted)

2. The owner and/or trainer shall be allowed to substitute a jockey in case the jockey refuses to ride/mount his declared horse and reports the same to the Board of Stewards before the start of the first race.

(2). 3. Substitution of jockeys and apprentice jockeys must be of the same group except in the case of Class A riders, who can be replaced by Class B jockeys if there are no available riders from the Class A group. Substitution of apprentice jockeys can be from any group so long as there are no apprentice jockeys available. (As per Board Resolution No. 09-16)

(3.) 4. A jockey whose mount has been withdrawn from a race shall not be allowed to substitute for a rider declared on the same race.

(4.) 5. A jockey who is incapable to ride on his first declared ride due to accident, illness or any fortuitous incident and subsequently is substituted by another jockey, cannot ride on the rest of his mounts for the day.

(5.) 6. A jockey who falls from his horse or suffers any injury during a race but was declared initially fit to ride may opt to be replaced on his next ride. He, however, may still be allowed to ride on his remaining mounts upon approval of the attending physician. (As per Board Resolution No. 25-14)

(6.) 7. Changes of jockeys shall be allowed in all Stakes Races, including Sweepstakes Races, provided the request is made before the first race of the same day for proper dissemination to the racing public. Jockeys are allowed to ride in a race before a Stakes Race. In the case of a jockey change, a written consent of the jockey to be substituted is required.

(7.) 8. Only jockeys whose suspension is two (2) weeks or less shall be allowed to be a substitute rider on the day of his suspension. He shall also still be allowed to substitute in the succeeding days provided that his case is on appeal.

(8.) 9. A letter or written note signed by either horse owner or trainer shall be presented to the Board of Stewards if the reason for change of jockey is any valid or justifiable reason as requested by the owner or trainer. (As per Board Resolution No. 29-14) The jockey involved shall not be allowed to ride for three (3) months on all horses registered to the particular owner.

(9.) 10. Jockeys who have an excess weight of one (1) kilogram during the initial weigh out shall be automatically replaced."

RESOLVED FURTHER that Unit III, Chapter 7 of the Rules and Regulations on Horse Racing be amended as follows:

"PR 76. ACTS AND/OR OMISSIONS BY JOCKEYS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING PENALTIES HEITAD

xxx xxx xxx

XX. For not reporting his refusal to ride the horse before the start of the first race: Fine of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00).

YY. For refusing to ride a horse after leaving the saddling paddock: Fine of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) and prohibition from riding the same horse for a period of three (3) months. Provided however that the jockey may challenge the finding of the veterinarian by filing a protest and requesting for a re-examination of the horse by a PHILRACOM accredited veterinarian within twenty-four (24) hours after the race. The jockey shall not pay the fine in case the result of the re-examination justifies his refusal to ride said horse."

APPROVED AND SIGNED by the undersigned Chairman and Commissioners of the Philippine Racing Commission this 16th day of December 2016 at Makati City, Philippines.

(SGD.) ANDREW A. SANCHEZChairman

(SGD.) BIENVENIDO C. NILES, JR.Commissioner

(SGD.) ATTY. WILFREDO J.A. DE UNGRIACommissioner

(SGD.) ATTY. JOSE P.G. SANTILLAN, JR.Commissioner

(SGD.) LYNDON NOEL B. GUCECommissioner

(SGD.) ATTY. RAMON S. BAGATSING, JR.Commissioner

(SGD.) ATTY. VICTOR V. TANTOCOCommissioner

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 113, No. 5, Page 1149 on January 30, 2017.