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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Sticker Shock Coming to the Delaware County Fair?

Still catching up on things, a press release indicates the new fines and suspension guidelines to go along with the new whipping rules in Ohio.  According to the Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC), the new guidelines are:

1) Cutting a horse with the whip or visibly injuring a horse (3768-17-17- (L))
a) $500 fine and a three-day driving suspension for first offense in Ohio
b) $1,000 fine, a five-day suspension, and referral to OSRC for second offense within 365 days in Ohio

2) Excessive/Indiscriminate, abusive whipping, whipping after the finish, whipping out of contention, illegal whip (3769-17-17 (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (I), (J), (K), (L))
a) $300 fine for first offense in Ohio
b) $300 fine, a three-day driving suspension for second offense within 365 days in Ohio
c) $500 fine, a five-day driving suspension and referral to OSRC for third offense within 365 days in Ohio

3) Failure to keep a line in each hand (3769-17-17 (A))
a) $300 fine for first offense in Ohio
b) $300 fine and a three-day driving suspension for second offense within 365 days in Ohio
c) $500 fine, a five-day driving suspension and referral to OSRC for third offense within 365 days in Ohio

4) Kicking (3769-17-16 (C))
a) $300 fine for first offense in Ohio
b) $300 fine and a three-day suspension for second offense within 365 days in Ohio
c) $500 fine, a five-day driving suspension and referral to OSRC for third offense within 365 days in Ohio

5) Leaning back excessively in the sulky (3769-17-16 (D))
a) $200 fine for first offense in Ohio
b) $300 fine for second offense within 365 days in Ohio
c) $500 fine, a three-day driving suspension and referral to OSRC for third offense within 365 days in Ohio.

The actual rule regarding whipping may be seen here.


In the past, new rules Ohio has approved caused issues with certain out-of-state drivers who bailed out of Delaware quickly after getting nailed with a penalty.  It will be interesting to see if any out-of-state drivers bolt the Delaware County Fair as a result of the new rules.  Admittedly for some of the Grand Circuit drivers, the fines won't be that much of an issue, but to others it will.  The real problem will come if the judges strictly enforce the rule (which they should) which may result in cases going to Columbus when referred to the OSRC.


A bill has been forwarded from a Senate committee in the NJ legislature which will allow wagering from mobile devices at racetracks and in the case over at the forever soon to come American Dream shopping complex.  While you can currently do this using your ADW, presumably, it will allow  you to wager as if you are on track, giving them a little more revenue.  It's not exactly a game changer, but in NJ, every dollar helps.  

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