RAC313.1 AQHA will accept cutter and chariot race results in Amarillo, Texas, as official and use such results for purposes of recording information in AQHA records, conducting AQHA cutter and chariot racing programs and determining qualification for advancement of a horse in AQHA’s breed registry.
RAC313.2 Cutter and chariot race results are eligible for AQHA recognition if the race is run under the direct supervision of a state racing commission and/or the World Championship Cutter and Chariot Racing Association (WCCCRA).
RAC313.3 Unless otherwise specified in this handbook, the racing rules of the WCCCRA will be utilized for the governance of cutter and chariot racing recognized by AQHA.
RAC313.4 A cutter and chariot racing contest shall consist of a series of races constituting one complete go-round for all horses entered, each race shall match two or more two-horse teams pulling a cutter and driver or a chariot and driver. For a contest to be recognized, 12 teams of registered horses (24 horses) must compete.
RAC313.5 All American Quarter Horses participating in cutter and chariot races must be properly identified.
RAC313.6 Cutter and chariot racing is a timed event, with placings determined on the basis of time lapsed for each team in the contest. The winning team in each contest will be the team with the least lapsed time, between the time the starting gate opens to dispatch the horses until the nose of the leading horse on such team crosses the finish line.
RAC313.7 Officials of a cutter and chariot racing contest shall consist of a presiding steward and two associate stewards, a starter, a clerk of the scales and three timers. In the event an electronic timer is used, there must still be two hand-timers. The time for any given team will be the time electronically recorded for that team, or the average of the hand timers in the event the electronic timer is not used or fails to operate.
RAC313.8 To be eligible for placing, the aggregate weight of the cutter or chariot, harnesses, bridles and driver for such team must not be less than 275 pounds.
RAC313.9 A cutter and chariot race must be started from a closed starting gate and conducted on a straight course.
RAC313.10 During the course of a cutter and chariot race, if a team moves out of the lane in which it starts in such a manner that it interferes with or impedes another team, the offending team shall be disqualified when, in the opinion of the stewards, the outcome of the contest was affected. Any such team disqualified shall be placed behind the team or teams it fouled, and shall be given the time of the team it was placed behind, plus .01 second, or the maximum accuracy of the timer not to exceed .001 second.
RAC313.11 Any horse finishing first, and any horse randomly selected by the stewards in a cutter and chariot racing contest shall be properly tested for the presence of unauthorized drugs or foreign substances
RAC313.12 Official speed indexes and Register of Merits shall be awarded according to RAC308.
RAC313.13 High-Point Champions will be awarded at the end of the cutter and chariot racing season in the following categories: 3-year-old colt, 3-year-old filly, 3-year-old gelding, aged stallion, aged mare and aged gelding. An appropriate award will be given to the horse’s recorded owner as of April 1.
RAC313.14 Superior Chariot Horse will be awarded to any American Quarter Horse who earns 200 chariot racing points.
RAC313.15 Chariot racing points will be awarded according to the order of finish in each division as listed in the chart below.