Participants in B.C.'s horse racing industry must be licensed by the IGCO.
On this page
- Who needs to be licensed
- How to apply
- Fees
- Licence term
- After you apply
- Identification requirements
- Photo requirements
- Resources
Who needs to be licensed
Everyone who works at a race track or teletheatre in B.C. needs to be licensed, including:
- Owners
- Jockeys
- Drivers
- Trainers
- Grooms
- Exercise riders
- Veterinarians
How to apply
When you are ready, apply using the Gaming Online Service. It is recommended that you review all information on this page each time you apply in case anything has changed.
To complete your online application, you will need:
- Valid identification
- A recent passport-quality colour photo taken within the last three (3) months
- Your current and previous addresses for the last five (5) years
- A valid credit card for the application fee, if you wish to pay online
Additional documentation that may be required:
- Legal name change documentation, such as a marriage certificate
- Permanent resident card or record of landing
- Work or study permit or permit exemption if not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Police Certificate from country of residence or Criminal Record Check, if not currently living in Canada
Fees
The application fee is $130. All application fees are non-refundable and must be paid in Canadian dollars. Payments are accepted by credit card when applying online.
Licence term
Your horse racing licence is valid for 3 years. Renewal applications should be submitted 6 to 8 weeks before your current licence expires. Please be advised that Grooms and Hotwalkers are required to submit a signed Certificate of Employment (COE) prior to the start of each race season. Please see the Forms section below. You can verify if your licence is valid by clicking the link at the List of active horse racing licensees below.
After you apply
Once an application has been submitted, the IGCO will verify that all required information and documents have been submitted and process the application fee. If your application is missing information, you will be contacted by the IGCO.
Background checks
A background check will be completed as part of the application process and may include an interview, a credit history, criminal record check, police information and online searches. This ensures high standards of honesty, integrity, and financial responsibility.
Identification requirements
An application requires colour copies of both a valid primary and secondary identification (ID). The primary ID must be government issued and include full legal name, date of birth, signature and photo. Clear copies of the front and back of each piece are required to be uploaded.
Please note:
- Expired ID will not be accepted
- A combined B.C. driver's licence and services card is considered one piece of ID
- Both pieces of ID must have the same name
- If the name on ID is different from the name being used, proof of name change must be uploaded to the application (marriage certificate, birth certificate or legal change of name certificate)
- If ID is in a language other than English, there may be a requirement to have it translated by a certified translator
Photo requirements
You are required to upload one high-quality colour photo taken within the last three (3) months. Your photo must be:
- Taken with a digital camera, cell phone or be a scanned passport photo
- Saved and submitted in a colour JPEG file format and have a file size more than 200 KB (kilobytes) and less than 2 MB (megabytes)
- Taken against a plain white or light-coloured background with no shadows, reflection or glare, so that your features are clearly distinguishable against the background
- Clear, sharp and in focus
- A full front view of the face and top of the shoulders squared to the camera (the image of the face and shoulders must be centered in the photo and the head must not be tilted)
- Representative of your natural skin tone
- Showing eyes that are open and clearly visible. Photos with red eye effect or red eye alterations are unacceptable. Prescription eyeglasses may be worn if the eyes are clearly visible and there is no reflection or glare. Sunglasses and tinted eyeglasses are unacceptable.
- Free of filters, visual effects, or digital enhancements
Head coverings for religious beliefs or medical reasons are acceptable provided the eyes, nose and mouth remain clearly visible.
For examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos, see Canadian Passport photo specifications.
Resources
Conditions of licence
Horse racing licensees must comply with the Gaming Control Act, Gaming Control Regulation, General Manager Regulations, and terms and conditions of their licence.