Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
017 - MAINE STATE HARNESS RACING COMMISSION
Chapter 7 - RACING
Section 017-7-72 - Purse Distribution

1. General provisions. All races shall be bona fide contests with one winner receiving the largest share of the purse and the balance of the purse distribution made according to the order of finish. No hippodroming or other arrangement for equal distribution of the purse money among the contestants is permitted. Violation of this rule may subject the Association, and officials in charge, to suspension or expulsion.

2. Stake. In a stake race the money given by the Association conducting the race is added to the money contributed by the nominators, all of which except deductions for the cost of the event, must be added to the purse. All of the money contributed in nominating, sustaining and starting payments must be added to the purse.

3. Withholding a portion of the purse. If a contractual agreement for withholding a portion of the purse for the benefit of trainers and drivers is entered into between a licensed racing Association as defined in 8 M.R.S.A. § 271 and a statewide association of horsepersons ("Horsepersons' Association") as defined in 8 M.R.S.A. § 272-B that represents a majority of the horsepersons at that Association's racetrack, a portion of the purse winnings as described in sub-section 1 shall be withheld for distribution to the trainer and driver of the horse that has earned a portion of a purse. The portion of the purses to be withheld must be determined by a contractual agreement between the Association and the Horsepersons' Association. A copy of the contractual agreement and any subsequent modification of the contract must be filed with the Commission before any portion of a purse is required to be withheld by the Association.