| (a) The assistant starters shall be supervised by the starter. The assistant starters shall load the horses into the starting gate and, when required, head the horses in the starting gate. (b) With respect to an official race, the assistant starters shall not: (1) handle or take charge of any horse in the starting gate without the expressed permission of the starter; (2) impede the start of a race; (3) apply a whip or other device, with the exception of steward-approved twitches, to assist in loading a horse into the starting gate; (4) slap, boot, or otherwise dispatch a horse from the starting gate; or (5) strike or use abusive language to a jockey. |
