New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 13 - LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Chapter 71 - HARNESS RACING
Subchapter 15 - STAKES AND FUTURITIES
Section 13:71-15.30 - Elimination plans

(a) Unless the conditions provide otherwise, whenever elimination heats are required or specified in the published conditions, such race shall be raced in the following manner unless conducted under another section of this rule. That is, the field shall be divided by lot and the first division shall race a qualifying dash for 30 percent of the purse, the second division shall race a qualifying dash for 30 percent of the purse, and the horses so qualified shall race in the main event for 40 percent of the purse. The winner of the main event shall be the race winner.

(b) In the event there are more horses declared to start than can be accommodated by the two elimination dashes to satisfy the excess, the percentage of the purse raced for each elimination dash shall be determined by dividing the number of elimination dashes into 60. The main events shall race for 40 percent of the purse. Unless the conditions provide otherwise, if there are two elimination dashes, the first four finishers in each dash qualify for the final; in the event there are three or more qualifying dashes, not more than three horses shall qualify from each qualifying dash. In the event the number of starters are divided by lot and raced in two divisions with all heat winners from both divisions competing in a final heat to determine the race winner; each division shall race two heats for 20 percent of the purse each heat. The remaining 20 percent of the purse shall go to the winner of the final heat.

(d) Whenever elimination heats are required, or specified in the published conditions of a stake or futurity, such race may be raced on a three heat plan, irrespective of any provisions in the conditions to the contrary. That is, the field shall be divided by lot and the first division shall race for 30 percent of the purse, the second division shall race for 30 percent; and the horses qualifying in the first and second divisions shall race the third heat for 30 percent of the purse. If after the third heat no horse has won two heats, a fourth heat shall be raced by only the heat winners. The race winner shall receive the remaining 10 percent of the purse. The number of horses qualifying to return after each elimination heat will be the same as set out in (b) above.

(e) The judges shall draw the positions in which the horses are to start in the main event, that is, they shall draw positions to determine which of the two dash winners shall have the pole and which one shall have the second position; which of the two horses that have been second shall start in the third position and which in fourth, and so forth. All elimination dashes and the concluding heat must be programmed to be raced upon the same day or night unless special provisions for earlier elimination dashes are set forth in the conditions. In the event there are three separate heat or dash winners, and they alone come back in order to determine the race winner according to the conditions, they will take post positions according to the order of their finish in the previous heat or dash.