Minnesota Administrative Rules

7884.0120 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTERING.

Subpart 1.

Time bars.

No time records or bars shall be used as an element of eligibility.

Subp. 2.

Horses to remain eligible.

Horses eligible at the time of entry shall remain eligible for that race regardless of earnings accrued after such entry.

Subp. 3.

Mixed race eligibility.

To participate in mixed races, trotting and pacing, a horse must be eligible under the conditions for the gait stated for it in its entry.

Subp. 4.

Only purse races considered starts.

The word "start" in a condition includes only those performances in a purse race.

Subp. 5.

Races limited to fastest horses.

Eligibility to enter preferred, invitation, junior invitation, handicap, open, or free-for-all races is limited to the fastest horses competing at the meeting. The races shall be subject to the following provisions.

A.

Horses shall be posted in the office of the racing secretary and listed with the stewards prior to closing entries.

B.

Horses so posted shall not be eligible to enter conditioned races unless the conditions specifically include horses posted to any or all such races.

C.

No two-year-old horse is eligible to be placed on the lists to race against older horses until it has won seven races, unless specifically requested by the owner or authorized agent, but the owner or authorized agent may withdraw a request after it has been made.

Subp. 6.

Maximum number in field.

The maximum size of fields for all races shall be determined as follows:

A.

For overnight events, the maximum number of horses shall be ten on a five-eighth mile track.

B.

For stakes races, the maximum number of horses shall be ten on a five-eighth mile track. If the number of horses declared to start exceeds ten on a five-eighth mile track, unless a lesser number of horses is specified in the conditions of the race, the race shall be run in two divisions or elimination heats.

Subp. 7.

Conditions precedent to entering.

No horse shall be permitted to enter to race unless:

A.

a valid eligibility certificate has been granted or validated for that horse by the USTA, and the eligibility certificate has been physically or electronically filed with the racing secretary;

B.

the current ownership of the horse has been registered with the USTA, and the registration papers have been physically or electronically filed with the racing secretary. For purposes of this subpart, a photocopy of the current registration papers will be accepted to the same extent as the original unless:

(1)

a genuine question is raised as to the authenticity of the original registration papers; or

(2)

the horse is entered in a claiming race;

C.

if the horse is leased:

(1)

a copy of the lease is on file with the association and the USTA; and

(2)

the horse races in the name of the lessee;

D.

the horse has qualified as provided in part 7884.0190;

E.

the horse has been lip tattooed, microchipped, or freeze branded;

F.

the horse is at least two years old but not older than 14 years old; and

G.

if it is a spayed mare, that fact is noted on the program, registration certificate, eligibility certificate, and the list of such horses is posted in the office of the racing secretary.

Subp. 8.

Time for closing of entries.

An association shall publish the time for closing of entries on the condition sheets.

Subp. 9.

Entries received after closing time not accepted.

An entry received after the specified time of closing shall not be accepted.

Subp. 10.

Horse shall be entered at only one racetrack.

The same horse shall not be entered to compete in races scheduled for the same day at different racetracks.

Subp. 11.

Entered horse may not be sold or transferred.

After having been drawn to start, a horse shall not be sold or transferred prior to the particular race.

Subp. 12.

Change of trainer.

Trainers may be changed only with prior approval of the stewards.

Subp. 13.

Horses denied entry.

A.

A horse that is on the qualifying list, starter's schooling list, paddock judge's list, or stewards' list in any racing jurisdiction and not removed from that list shall not be entered. A horse on the veterinarian's list with a specified removal date may enter but not race until the removal date has passed. Horses without a specified removal date may not be entered until removed from the list by the commission veterinarian.

B.

A horse that has been treated with any bisphosphonate drug within the past six months shall not be entered.

C.

Any horse that is barred, suspended, or ineligible for racing in another racing jurisdiction may not be entered.

Subp. 14.

Rejection of entries.

The association may reject the entry into an overnight event of any horse whose past performance indicates that it would be below the competitive level of other horses entered in the particular race.

Subp. 15.

Naming of drivers.

Drivers shall be named no later than the time necessary to permit their names to be published in the official racetrack program. The deadline for naming of drivers shall be set by the association, and no driver may be changed after the deadline without the permission of the stewards.

Subp. 16.

Entered horse to be on grounds.

All entered horses must be present on the grounds of the licensed racetrack before the race, at a time prescribed by the stewards, that is at least five hours before the first race of the day.

Subp. 17.

Commission's access to entered horses.

The stewards may require an entered horse to be on the grounds of a licensed racetrack at any time prior to the race and remain there until after the race is completed.

Subp. 18.

Declaring hobbles.

If a horse is qualified with or without hobbles, the trainer has the option of racing the horse with or without hobbles. The trainer shall designate whether the horse will race with or without hobbles at the time of entry. Changing the designation after the horse is programmed to race constitutes an equipment change and must be approved by the stewards and announced to the public.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 240.03; 240.23; 240.24; 240.29

History:

9 SR 2527; 11 SR 543; 31 SR 1277; 33 SR 8; 34 SR 1135; 42 SR 1258; 44 SR 1047; 46 SR 1210; 47 SR 990

Published Electronically:

June 14, 2023