Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 178 - Racing Commission
Chapter 7884 - HARNESS RACES
Part 7884.0190 - QUALIFYING RACES

Universal Citation: MN Rules 7884.0190

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024

Subpart 1. Scheduling of qualifying races.

Weather conditions permitting, qualifying races shall be scheduled at least once a week if the meet extends longer than two weeks and shall be conducted under the supervision of the judges.

Subp. 2. Horses required to compete in qualifying races for race meets longer than two weeks. If the meet extends longer than two weeks, the following horses shall not be eligible to enter any race until they have competed in qualifying races:

A. A horse that does not have a charted race at the gait chosen.

B. A horse that does not show a charted line within the last six starts. For that purpose an uncharted race contested in heats or more than one dash and consolidated shall be considered to be a start.

C. A horse that has not started for a period of 45 days or more. On day 45, the horse is ineligible.

D. A horse which has raced at a meeting at which races were not charted.

E. A horse that is listed on the veterinarian's list as unsound.

F. A horse adding or removing hobbles regardless of gait. However, if a horse that previously qualified with hobbles fails to qualify without hobbles, the horse shall remain qualified to race with hobbles. If a horse previously qualified without hobbles and fails to qualify with hobbles, the horse shall remain qualified to race without hobbles.

Subp. 2a. Horses required to compete in qualifying races regardless of duration of meet. The following horses shall not be eligible to enter any race until they have competed in qualifying races:

A. A horse that is on the qualifying list.

B. A horse that chokes, bleeds, or falls during a warmup or a race.

C. A horse that makes a break on its first start after a qualifying race on a track rated fast or good must qualify regardless of its finishing position. Any horse making a break in two consecutive races on tracks rated as fast or good shall be required to qualify regardless of finishing position.

D. A horse that has been distanced.

Subp. 3. Preferred or invitational horses.

The judges may permit a preferred or invitational horse to qualify by means of a timed workout consistent with the time of preferred or invitational races that have been completed at the race meeting.

Subp. 4. Judges may set standards.

The judges may establish a qualifying time for an individual horse consistent with that horse's past performance.

Subp. 5. Qualifying drivers.

If a qualifying race is conducted for the purpose of qualifying drivers and/or to improve a driver's eligibility to move up in class, and not to qualify horses, the race need not be charted, timed, or recorded, but this clause does not apply to races qualifying both horses and drivers.

Subp. 6. Qualifying times shall be posted.

Qualifying times shall be established by the association and those times and any subsequent changes to them shall be approved by the judges and posted so that they are available for inspection by participants.

Subp. 7. Trainers to be notified.

Trainers of horses placed on the qualifying list shall be advised by the judges or their designee of that fact by written notice which must also be posted in the racing office.

Subp. 8. Medications.

A horse participating in a qualifying race for any reason other than removal from the veterinarian's list may be randomly selected for testing under chapter 7892. Tests results do not need to be returned prior to entry. A positive test result reported after the horse has qualified, raced, and earned money shall result in disqualification, loss of purse, and trainer sanctions. A horse participating in a qualifying race for removal from the veterinarian's list must have testing performed and the results must be returned prior to removal from the veterinarian's list.

Statutory Authority: MS s 240.08; 240.23; 240.24; 240.29

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Minnesota may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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