Racing

• Racing and hurdles

• Contact the JRTCC
• members doghouse

Related links

• Events Handbook Contents

A "Sanctioned" Trial means insurance is taken out, only JRTs can race, a roster of qualified judges enforce standard rules for the events, and ribbons are awarded.

What is Racing

Most dogs like this action-packed sport. Races are divided by age, height and sex to make them as fair as possible. Up to 6 terriers (or on fun days, other small dogs as well) are loaded into the six slots of a starting box. They are offered the "scent" (usually a fuzzy cloth lure on a pulley) through the front slats. The gate is opened just as the lure starts away. And.. they're OFF! It's a 5 second race as they give chase down the 200 metre track. The "fox" lure disppears down its hole; i.e. through a wall of bales with a hole just large enough to let one at a time go through.

Safety

You can imagine there is some muscling aside involved, in deciding who gets though the hole first! There can be disagreements as to proper precedence. This is why, for their safety, all except puppies under 6 months must wear muzzles to race -- in case tempers get out of hand.

You can practice at home. Have your terrier chase a lure and encourage him to go through a hole by waggling the lure in his face or even guiding him through, gently. Your dog will improve each time out of the box.

Rules for Sanctioned Trials

"Flat racing" means the dogs scoot straight down the track. "Hurdles" means soft barriers, their height adjusted to the dogs who are running, are spotted along the way. "Steeplechasing" adds water barriers!

1. The length of the race track must be a minimum of 52 metres, (200 feet) from the starting box to the finish line.
2. There must be a minimum of six handlers to pick up terriers at the end of the track and return them to owners. An enclosure approximately 10' wide by at least 12' long behind the finish line is necessary. Gloves for the catchers are recommended.
3. There must be a Racing Judge watching for dogs catching the lure, interfering with other dogs, initiating a fight or displaying aggressive behaviour. Catching the lure implies actually grabbing or overrunning the lure. Interference is defined as any dog who is not chasing the lure but impeding the progress of other terriers in the race.
4. There must be at least 2 racing stewards at the start to allot the coloured collars, organize heats and run the starting box.
5. Entries must be assigned distinctive collars for racing, e.g. different coloured collars or numbered tags for each entry. Heats must be organized to maximize the number of entries of each heat, but no more than six entries shall be started at one time.
6. Handlers must have entries ready to race, be aware of their classes and be ready when called; a 'paddock' area to assemble heats is recommended to facilitate this. In the event a heat is missed, permission to run in a later heat is granted at the discretion of the racing steward. No refunds for missed races.
7. Once entries are loaded into the starting box, all handlers must proceed immediately to the finish line and be ready to receive their terrier. Failure to pick up the terrier promptly may subject entry to disqualification.
8. There will be a 30 second time limit to complete each race.
9. Any entry going around a fence in a steeplechase race will be disqualified.
10. Any entry that starts a fight in any race may be disqualified by the Racing Judge from further racing that day. The entry's name should be recorded and submitted to the J.R.T.C.C. Trial Committee.
11. The race may be rerun if in the opinion of the judge the outcome of the race is affected by:
    • the lure being caught
    • a terrier interfering with the progress of the lure
    • the lure being overrun
    • terrier interference
12. Any race may be rerun at the judge's discretion. THE JUDGE'S DECISION IS FINAL.
13. Entries must cross the finish line completely in order to place in a race; the finish line is the back side of the straw/hay bale barrier.
14. Races, if split, must be split first by height, not gender.
15. Racing Champions are determined by a run-off of the first place terriers from each class in each division. Separate championships should be available to the 10"-12.5" and 12.5"-15" categories. Run-offs are over hurdles. Terriers who finish 2nd in the run-offs will be the Reserve Champion. Terriers must have been entered in both flats and hurdles to qualify.
16. All terriers over 6 months must be properly muzzled in JRTCC approved nylon fully enclosed muzzles or plastic-leather full basket type.
17. All height measurement requests must be requested prior the running of the heat/race, and only by an owner/handler of the terrier in that heat/race. NO HEIGHT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY JRTCC SANCTIONED TRIAL.