The Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) has issued a notice to horsepeople that the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) has voted to adopt a new pylons rule, which will go into effect on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
The New Jersey Racing Commission voted to adopt new rule N.J.A.C. 13:71-20.25 (Pylons). The rule will be published in the New Jersey Register and become effective September 7, 2021.
A copy of the complete ruling, provided by the SBOANJ, follows.
SUBCHAPTER 20. RULES OF RACING
13:11-20.25 Pylons.
(a) It shall be a violation of this rule if a horse, while on stride, or part of the horse's sulky, travels inside the existing pylons when not forced to do so by the actions of another driver or horse. The pylons shall constitute the inside limits of the racetrack.
(b) When an act of interference causes a horse, or part of the horse's sulky to cross inside the pylons and the horse is placed by the Judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered. The horse that was forced inside the pylons must attempt to return to the racetrack as soon as is safely possible. A horse remaining inside the pylons once, in the Judge's discretion, it is safe to return to the racetrack, may be penalized in accordance with this rule.
(c) For purposes of placing, the following shall apply:
1. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse's sulky, goes inside a pylon and, in the opinion of the Judges, that action improved the position of the horse or gave that horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race, the horse may be placed at the discretion of the Judges;
2. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse's sulky, goes inside two consecutive pylons and was not forced to do so by the interference of another horse or driver, the defending horse shall be placed behind all horses that are lapped to the offending horse at the wire;
3. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse's sulky, goes inside three or more consecutive pylons and was not forced to do so by the interference of another horse or driver, the offending horse shall be placed last; and
4. If a horse while on stride, or any part of the horse's sulky, goes inside a single pylon more than one time in a single race and was not forced to do so by the interference of another horse or driver, each occurrence will be considered an individual violation of this rule.
(d) Pylons at all racetracks shall be spaced consistently and shall conform to the following:
1. Pylons, other than the pylon at the wire, shall be white, red, yellow, or orange in color but all pylons at a single racetrack must be the same color except for the pylon at the wire, which can be any color of the racetrack's choosing;
2. All pylons must have a red band at the point furthest from the ground to make the point more visible to race participants and officials: Should the pylon itself be red, the pylon must have a white or yellow band at the point furthest from the ground;
3. At all racetracks, pylons shall be:
i. Thirty inches above ground;
ii. Set at a 30-degree inward angle to the track surface;
iii. Forty feet apart on the turns; and
iv. Sixty feet apart on the straightaways.
(With files from SBOANJ)