Sec. 09.10.01.57. Trainers

A. Eligibility. A person may not be granted a trainer's license unless the person has:

(1) Been previously issued a trainer's license;

(2) Been issued a trainer's license in another jurisdiction and started a horse in that jurisdiction; or

(3) Satisfied all of the following requirements:

(a) Served a minimum of 1 year as an apprentice with a licensed trainer;

(b) Submitted notarized statements from three licensed trainers containing their opinions as to the applicant's:

(i) Reputation,

(ii) Financial responsibility,

(iii) Qualifications to train;

(c) Passed a standard examination administered by the stewards;

(d) Passed a standard barn test administered by horsemen's representatives under the supervision of the stewards.

A-1. To be considered a passing grade, the combined score for the tests under §A(2)(c) and (d) shall be 80 percent or more. The stewards may impose a waiting period before allowing the individual to retake the examination. However, the waiting period may not exceed 6 months.

A-2. Restrictions on Steeplechase Trainers.

N> (1) A steeplechase trainer's license only authorizes a person to enter, start, and race horses in:

(a) Steeplechase races; and

(b) Horse races conducted in conjunction with steeplechase racing at Fair Hill.

(2) A person may be granted a steeplechase trainer's license without satisfying the eligibility requirements of §A of this regulation, but shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the stewards, an ability to train steeplechase horses.

(3) A person otherwise licensed as a trainer is not required to be licensed as a steeplechase trainer.

(4) Except as provided in this section, a steeplechase trainer is subject to all regulations applicable to trainers.

B. A person under 18 years old may not be granted a trainer's license.

B-1. Continuing Education.

(1) Effective January 1, 2022, and each year thereafter, a trainer or an assistant trainer may not be eligible to renew their license unless they have completed 4 hours of continuing education during the previous calendar year.

(2) The stewards may waive this requirement for good cause or provide the applicant 30 days to complete the continuing education requirement.

(3) At least 2 hours of continuing education shall include curriculum of equine health, safety, and welfare.

(4) Continuing education requirements may be earned online or by attending live courses that are approved by the Commission.

(5) Continuing education credits earned in other jurisdictions may be used to satisfy this regulation.

(6) Trainers and assistant trainers shall retain their continuing education documentation for 4 years.

(7) The Commission or its designee may request documentation from a licensee at any time to ensure compliance with this regulation.

(8) Trainers and assistant trainers shall certify on their license applications that they have satisfied the requirements of this regulation.

(9) Failure to comply with this regulation may result in disciplinary action.

C. Each trainer shall obtain a license from the Commission. Before issuance of a license, a trainer may be required to satisfy the Commission of his financial responsibility and shall maintain his financial responsibility so long as he is licensed by the Commission. The proper fee shall accompany each application. If a renewal is not made after a period of 5 years, the applicant shall again apply and pay the fee for an original license. The Commission, after a period of 5 years, shall remove from its records the license card of the individual.

D. A trainer may not practice his profession except under his own name.

E. The stewards may permit a trainer to act one time for an owner while awaiting action on the trainer's application for licensure. A trainer who so acts but does not complete his application for a license and pay the appropriate fee within a reasonable period of time shall be precluded from racing until the application is filed and license fee paid.

F. A licensed trainer may represent the owner in the matter of entries, declarations, and the employment of jockeys.

G. A trainer shall have his horse in the paddock at the time appointed.

H. A trainer shall attend his horse in the paddock, and shall be present to supervise his saddling, unless he has obtained the permission of a steward to send his licensed assistant trainer or another licensed trainer as a substitute.

I. If a trainer engages two or more jockeys for the same race, he shall pay the losing fee for each engaged jockey not riding in the race, as well as the proper fee to the jockey who does ride.

J. A jockey's fee shall be considered earned when the jockey is weighed out by the clerk of the scales. The fee may not be considered earned if the jockey, of his own free will, takes himself off of his mount, when 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.

K. A trainer shall be responsible for the condition of a horse trained by him.

L. Each trainer shall register with the racing secretary all the horses in his charge, giving the name, age, sex, color, and ownership of each, and shall immediately notify the racing secretary of any transfers to or from his badge list, and the disposition of the horses so transferred.

M. A trainer may not have in his charge or under his supervision any horse owned, in whole or in part, by a disqualified person.

N. A trainer may not accept, directly or indirectly, any bribe, gift, or gratuity in any form which might influence the result of any race or which would tend to do so.

O. A trainer may not employ a jockey for the purpose of preventing him from riding in any race.

P. Substitute and Assistant Trainers.

(1) If a trainer is to be absent from the track where his horses are participating in races, he shall obtain a licensed trainer to substitute for him during his absence. The substitute trainer shall be approved by the stewards upon forms approved by the Racing Commission. The original trainer is the absolute insurer of the horse he has entered. The substitute trainer will then become the absolute insurer of any additional horses he may enter.

(2) A trainer who has in his care a substantial number of horses, or who is actively participating in more than one race meeting at one time, may employ an assistant trainer with the approval of the stewards. Before the issuance of an assistant trainer's license, the applicant shall be required to comply with all the requirements prescribed for a person applying for a trainer's license. The assistant trainer shall be the absolute insurer of all horses that he may enter and is subject to all regulations prescribed by the Maryland Racing Commission. The name of the assistant trainer shall be shown on the official program along with that of the employing trainer.

Q. Trainers having charge, custody, or care of horses are obligated to protect properly the horses and guard against any violation of the Corrupt Practices Rules.

R. A trainer who makes a frivolous complaint or frivolously places a hold upon the results of a race being made official may be fined or suspended by the stewards.

S. A trainer or owner who harbors anyone not provided with a license issued by the Commission shall be immediately reported to the stewards, so they may make investigation and take appropriate action as they deem necessary, if any, as provided under Regulation .45V of this chapter.

T. Trainers shall instruct jockeys that all horses shall be ridden out in every race. If two or more horses run in one interest in any race, each jockey shall give his best effort.

U. A trainer is solely responsible for the weight to be carried by any horse he enters.

V. Trainers may not occupy stalls at a track without written permission of the track management. Stall assignments shall be made for a fixed period of time, and shall be vacated at the end of that period.

W. Stalls are to be assigned by the Racing Association to trainers for horses of racing age (no yearlings) which comply with the Racing Association's published eligibility rule, except that the Racing Association may assign specific stalls for horses to be used as ponies. Stalls are to be for the sole use of the trainer to whom they are assigned. Falsification of stall applications and transfer or use of these stalls by any other person constitutes a violation of this rule and will be subject to fine or suspension.

X. When a groom or other employee of a trainer, working at one of the tracks, leaves the trainer's employ, the trainer shall promptly notify the security office of that track, in writing, of the employee's departure.

Y. A licensed trainer may not:

(1) Take or keep in his charge a horse owned wholly or in part, or controlled by, a person unlicensed as an owner;

(2) Assume responsibility for a horse not under his active care and supervision, except as provided by §§H and P of this regulation.

Z. Each trainer shall register with the stewards all the horses in the trainer's charge that have a mortgage or lien of any kind against them, giving the name, age, sex, color, and ownership of each horse.