01-017 C.M.R. ch. 7, § 6 - Race Meet Standards and Eligibility

1. Any horse that does not show a satisfactory charted line which meets the qualifying standards for that meet within 45 days of the date of the program must go a satisfactory qualifying race. The Commission may modify this requirement for the first 45-days of each racing season or upon request from an Association.
2. Qualifying races shall be held at least one full week prior to the opening of any extended pari-mutuel meeting, weather permitting, and shall be scheduled at least once a week during all meets, unless waived by a majority of a committee consisting of an agent of the licensed track, a representative of the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association, and the Presiding Judge. Such qualifying races shall be held under the supervision of a Presiding or Associate Judge and shall be charted by a licensed Charter. A standard photo finish shall be in use and each horse shall be timed separately.
3. A purse may be paid in a qualifying race for two-year-olds (Baby Races) provided the purse does not exceed the minimum purse established by the Association at the time of the race.
4. Schooling horses. The starting gate shall be available after qualifying races or when requested by the Judges or State Steward to school horses.
5. The Judges may require any horse that has been on the Steward's List to go a qualifying race.
6. No horse shall be permitted to obtain a win record in a qualifying race unless a test sample has been taken either immediately before or after such race.
7. Horses which have made breaks in the past two consecutive races entered on good or fast tracks and did not finish in at least one race placing first, second, or third, must go a qualifying race. If the break is caused by interference or equipment failure the break shall be excused.
8. Horses failing to meet qualifying standards on a good or fast track must go a qualifying race unless there is interference or equipment failure.
9. A horse that has been scratched from a program on two consecutive occasions may be asked to go a qualifying race by the presiding judge.
10. Any horse placed on the Steward's List must be scratched from any subsequent race to which it is previously declared to start.

Notes

01-017 C.M.R. ch. 7, § 6

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