HORSE RACING COMMISSION

[Filed March 17, 2025, 3:25 p.m., effective April 17, 2025]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Amends the rule to match the Association of Racing Commissioners International model rule language to ensure that there is an agreement in place between the organizations representing the majority of horse owners and jockeys for jockey fees prior to the meet starting.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 260-32-180 Fees.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 67.16.020.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-04-094 on February 3, 2025.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: March 17, 2025.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-07-065, filed 3/10/06, effective 4/10/06)

(1) The organizations representing the majority of horse owners and jockeys shall reach and present an agreement to the commission prior to the start of a race meet. The commission must approve jockey riding fees prior to the beginning of a race meet.

(a) If any owner or trainer engages two or more jockeys for the same race, he/she shall pay the losing fee for each jockey not riding in the race, as well as the proper fee to the jockey who does ride. In the event an owner or trainer elects to remove a jockey from his/her mount after scratch time or such other time as designated by the stewards, the stewards may require a double jockey fee to be paid. The double jockey fee to be paid may be equal to that earned by the jockey who rode the race or a losing fee, as determined by the board of stewards.

(b) A jockey's fee shall be considered earned when the clerk of scales weighs out the jockey. The fee shall not be considered earned if the jockey, of his/her own free will, takes himself/herself off his/her mount, where injury to the horse or rider is not involved. Any conditions or considerations not covered by the above ruling shall be at the discretion of the stewards.

(2) In a dead heat the jockeys involved shall divide equally the sum total of the fees they would have received individually had one beaten the other or others. Likewise, the owners of the horses involved shall pay their equal share.