811 KAR 2:045. Trainers

      Section 1. License Required. No horse may be raced in this state unless the trainer thereof has been granted a current trainer's license.

 

      Section 2. Requirements for Trainer's License. (1) In addition to rules applicable to licensees under 811 KAR 2:020, a holder of a trainer's license:

      (a) Must be an individual person eighteen (18) years or older. No trainer may be licensed to train under an assumed or stable name.

      (b) Must be qualified by experience or competence to care for and train race horses as determined by a standard examination prescribed and given at any time by the stewards.

      (c) Must have in his charge a horse eligible to race.

      (d) Must not engage in an activity directly or indirectly involving the racing performance of horses on association grounds other than those registered as being in his charge.

      (2) A licensed trainer cannot also be currently licensed to participate in racing in this state as a jockey, apprentice jockey, jockey's agent, veterinarian, assistant veterinarian, dental technician, farrier, apprentice farrier, or as an association racing department employee, except as provided by 811 KAR 2:020.

      (3) The commission may deny, suspend, or revoke a trainer's license for the spouse, or any member of the immediate family or household, or a licensee ineligible to hold a trainer's license under subsection (1)(d) of this section, unless there is a showing on the part of the applicant or licensed trainer, and the commission so finds, that his participation in racing as a trainer will in no way circumvent the intent of this rule by permitting a person under the control or direction of a licensee ineligible to hold a trainer's license to serve in essence as a substitute for such ineligible person.

 

      Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. A licensed trainer shall bear primary responsibility for the proper care, health, training condition, safety, and protection against administration of prohibited drugs or medication of horses in his charge. A licensed trainer:

      (1) Shall register with the racing secretary all persons in his employ and insure same are duly licensed within twenty-four (24) hours after such employees arrive on association grounds, or are employed. Upon discharge of an employee, a trainer must promptly notify the racing secretary and commission license administrator.

      (2) Shall carry workmen's compensation insurance covering his employees in connection with racing as required by Kentucky law.

      (3) Shall register with the racing secretary all horses in his charge in accordance with 811 KAR 2:020. No licensed trainer may take or keep in his charge a horse owned wholly or in part, or controlled by, a person unlicensed as an owner. No licensed trainer shall assume responsibility for a horse not under his active care and supervision, except as provided in subsection (6) of this section.

      (4) Shall bear primary responsibility for horses he enters as to eligibility; weight allowance claimed; physical fitness to perform creditably at the distance entered; absence of prohibited drugs or medications; proper shoes, bandages, and equipment; and timely arrival in the saddling paddock. A licensed trainer shall be jointly responsible with the licensed owner for horses he enters as to stakes payments and jockey fees due.

      (5) Shall furnish the name of the jockey engaged to ride each horse entered, if possible at the time of entry, but in no event later than scratch time. If no jockey has been named to ride a horse entered to race by scratch time, then the stewards shall select the best rider available to ride such horse.

      (6) Shall personally attend his horses in the paddock and supervise the saddling thereof, unless excused by the stewards. If a licensed trainer is to be absent for more than six (6) days from association grounds where his horses are stabled, he must provide a substitute, his licensed assistant trainer or another licensed trainer, to attend the saddling of horses already entered and to assume complete responsibility for horses to be entered; such substitute must be approved by the stewards and shall sign in the presence of the stewards a form furnished by the commission accepting complete responsibility for horses such substitute enters.

      (7) Shall attend the taking and testing of a saliva, urine, or blood sample from a horse in his charge by the commission veterinarian and commission chemist, or shall delegate one (1) of his licensed employees to do so.

      (8) Shall maintain the stable area assigned to him in a clean, neat and sanitary condition at all times, and insure that fire prevention rules are strictly observed in his stable area.

      (9) Shall promptly report to the association veterinarian any sickness or death of any horse in his charge.

 

      Section 4. Restrictions on Ownership. No licensed trainer shall have any interest, by ownership or lease in the racing or breeding qualities, in a horse of which he is not the trainer at any race meeting at which such trainer is in charge of a racing stable.

 

      Section 5. Horses Suspended. All horses in the charge of a trainer whose license has been revoked or suspended shall not be permitted to race during the period of such trainer's suspension. Upon application by the owners of such suspended horses, the stewards may approve the transfer of such horses to the care of another licensed trainer, and upon such approved transfer, such horses may be entered to race.

 

      Section 6. Assistant Trainer. A licensed owner or licensed trainer may employ an assistant trainer. Such assistant trainer must be licensed before acting in such capacity on behalf of his employer. Qualifications for obtaining an assistant trainer's license shall be prescribed by the stewards. A licensed assistant trainer shall assume the same duties and responsibilities as imposed on the holder of a trainer's license. The licensed trainer shall be jointly responsible with his assistant trainer for all acts and omissions of such assistant trainer involving a racing matter. (Recodified from 812 KAR 1:045, 6-10-87; Am. 14 Ky.R. 1673; eff. 3-10-88.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 230.610-230.770

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS Chapter 13A

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: To regulate conditions under which Arabian, quarter horse and appaloosa racing shall be conducted in Kentucky. The function of this administrative regulation is to outline the requirements for trainers.