Pennsylvania Code
Title 58 - RECREATION
Part V - Harness Racing Commission
Chapter 183 - RULES OF RACING
DECLARATION TO START AND DRAWING HORSES
Section 183.197 - Qualifying races

(1) Within 2 weeks of being declared in, a horse that has not raced previously at the gait chosen must go a qualifying race under the supervision of the presiding judge or an associate judge. No horse shall be permitted to race at a pari-mutuel track who does not have at least one charted line by a licensed charter at the gait chosen. In order to provide complete and accurate chart information on time and beaten lengths, a standard photo-finish shall be in use.

(2) A horse that does not show a charted line for the previous year must go a qualifying race as set forth in paragraph (1).

(3) Any horse that fails to race within 30 days after having started in the current year must go a qualifying race as set forth in paragraph (1). However, at any race meeting this period can be extended to 60 days upon receiving approval of the Commission. The time period allowed shall be counted from the date of the last race to and including the date of declaration. Horses entered and in to go in race or races which are cancelled due to no fault of their own, shall be considered to have raced in that race. In such cases preference shall revert back to the last purse race and no start shall be counted for conditioned purposes.

(4) When a horse has raced at a charted meeting during the current year and then goes to meetings where races are not charted, the information from the uncharted races may be summarized, including each start, and consolidated in favor of charted lines. The consolidated line shall carry date, place, time, driver, finish, track conditions and distance if race is not at 1 mile.

(5) The judges may require any horse that has been on the steward's list to go a qualifying race. If a horse has raced in individual time not meeting the qualifying standards for that class of horse, he may be required to go a qualifying race.

(6) The judges may permit a fast horse to qualify by means of a timed workout consistent with the time of the races in which he will compete.

(7) The judges may institute standards or guidelines relating to the performance of the horse which could cause him to qualify. However, such guidelines and standards must be approved by the Commission.

(8) To enable a horse to qualify, qualifying races should be held at least one full week prior to the opening of any meeting and shall be scheduled at least twice a week. Qualifying races shall also be scheduled twice a week during the meeting.

(9) If a horse takes a win race record in a qualifying race, such record must be prefaced with the letter "Q" where it appears, except in the case where, immediately prior to or following the race, the horse taking the record has been submitted to an approved test. It will be the responsibility of the presiding judge to report the test on the judge's sheet.

(10) Races conducted for the purpose of qualifying drivers only need not be charted, timed or recorded.