Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 178 - Racing Commission
Chapter 7884 - HARNESS RACES
Part 7884.0120 - ELIGIBILITY AND ENTERING
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 39, March 25, 2024
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.
Subp. 6. Maximum number in field.
The maximum size of fields for all races shall be determined as follows:
Subp. 7. Conditions precedent to entering.
No horse shall be permitted to enter to race unless:
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.
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 240.23; 240.29