Iowa Admin. Code r. 491-10.6

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 491-10.6 - Conduct of races

(1) Horses ineligible. Any horse ineligible to be entered for a race, or ineligible to start in any race, which competes in that race may be disqualified and the stewards may discipline the persons responsible for the horse competing in that race.

a. A horse is ineligible to enter a race when:

(1) The nominator has failed to identify the horse which is being entered for the first time, by name, color, sex, age, and the names of sire and dam as registered.

(2) A horse has been knowingly entered or raced in any jurisdiction under a different name, with an altered registration certificate, altered microchip, or altered lip or digital tattoo by a person having lawful custody or control of the horse for the purpose of deceiving any facility or regulatory agency.

(3) A horse has been allowed to enter or start by a person having lawful custody or control of the horse who participated in or assisted in the entry or racing of some other horse under the name of the horse in question.

(4) A horse is wholly or partially owned by a disqualified person or a horse is under the direct or indirect management of a disqualified person.

(5) A horse is wholly or partially owned by the spouse of a disqualified person or a horse is under the direct or indirect management of the spouse of a disqualified person. In such cases, a presumption which may be rebutted is that the disqualified person and spouse constitute a single financial entity with respect to the horse.

(6) A horse is owned in whole or in part by an undisclosed person or interest.

(7) A horse has been nerved by surgical neurectomy.

(8) A horse has been trachea-tubed to artificially assist breathing.

(9) A horse has impaired eyesight in both eyes.

(10) A horse appears on the Iowa veterinarian's list, notwithstanding a horse appearing on the veterinarian's list as a "bleeder." In addition, a horse appearing on any starter's, stewards', or paddock judge's list, or the veterinarian's list in another jurisdiction, is ineligible unless the horse is removed from the list by the day of the race and approved by the board of stewards to enter.

(11) A horse is barred from racing in any racing jurisdiction.

(12) A horse under four years of age has been injected with bisphosphonates. A horse four years of age or older may only be administered bisphosphonate if the bisphosphonate is Food and Drug Administration-approved for use in the horse and administered in accordance with the label requirements and only for diagnosed cases of navicular disease. If bisphosphonate is administered as permitted by rule, the commission shall be notified within 24 hours of the administration. If bisphosphonate is detected in sampling or if a horse is administered bisphosphonate, the horse shall be placed on the veterinarian's list for no less than six months.

(13) A horse has had any intra-articular joint injection within the past six days. For the purpose of counting the number of days a horse is ineligible to run following an intra-articular injection, the day of injection is the first day. The detection of two or more corticosteroids constitutes a stacking violation.

(14) A horse has been administered thyroxine and thyroid modulators/hormones including, but not limited to, those containing T4 (tetraiodothyronine/thyroxine), T3 (triiodothyronine), or combinations thereof. This excludes a horse that has been individually prescribed thyroxine and thyroid modulators/hormones.

b. A horse is ineligible to start a race when:

(1) The horse is not stabled on the premises of the facility by the time designated by the stewards.

(2) The horse's breed registration certificate is not on file, physically or digitally, with the racing secretary, or horse identifier, except where the racing secretary has submitted the certificate to the breed registry for correction or transfer of ownership. The stewards may, in their discretion, waive the requirement provided the registration certificate is in the possession of another board of stewards, a copy of the registration certificate is on file with the racing secretary, and the horse is otherwise properly identified. For claiming races, if the claimed horse has been approved by the stewards to run without the registration certificate on file in the racing office, then the registration certificate must be provided to the racing office within seven business days for transfer to the new owner before claiming funds will be approved for transfer by the stewards.

(3) The horse is not fully identified by an official tattoo on the inside of the upper lip or digital tattoo or microchip.

(4) A horse is brought to the paddock and is not in the care of and saddled by a currently licensed trainer or assistant trainer unless excused by the stewards.

(5) No current negative Coggins test or current negative equine infectious anemia test certificate is attached to the horse's registration certificate or otherwise accessible by the commission or racing association.

(6) The stakes or entrance money for the horse has not been paid.

(7) The horse appears on the starter's list, stewards' list, paddock list, or veterinarian's list.

(8) The horse is a first-time starter not approved by the starter and does not have a minimum of two official workouts for quarter horses or a minimum of three official workouts for thoroughbreds.

(9) Within the past calendar year, the horse has started in a race that has not been reported in a nationally published monthly chartbook, unless, at least 48 hours prior to entry, the owner of the horse provides to the racing secretary performance records which show the place and date of the race, distance, weight carried, amount carried, and the horse's finishing position and time.

(10) In a stakes race, a horse has been transferred with its engagements, unless prior to the start, the fact of transfer of the horse and its engagements has been filed with the racing secretary.

(11) A horse is subject to a lien which has not been approved by the stewards and filed with the horsemen's bookkeeper.

(12) A horse is subject to a lease not filed with the stewards.

(13) A horse is not in sound racing condition.

(14) A horse has been blocked with alcohol or injected with any other foreign substance or drug to desensitize the nerves of the leg.

(15) A horse appears on the veterinarian's list as a "bleeder."

c. A horse is ineligible to start in a race when:

(1) A thoroughbred has shoes (racing plates) which have toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (0.07874 inches), bends, jars, caulks, stickers or any other traction device on the front hooves while racing or training on all racing surfaces.

(2) A quarter horse has front shoes which have toe grabs with a height greater than four millimeters (0.15748 inches), bends, jars, caulks, stickers or any other traction device worn on the front shoes.

(2) Entries.

a. The facility shall provide forms for making entries and declarations with the racing secretary. Entries and declarations shall be in writing, or by telephone or fax subsequently confirmed in writing by the owner, trainer, or licensed designee. When any entrant or nominator claims failure or error in the receipt by a facility of any entry or declaration, the entrant or nominator may be required to submit evidence within a reasonable time of the filing of the entry or the declaration. Individuals who hold a jockey agent license, regardless of other licenses held, shall not be permitted to make entries after a time set by the stewards.

b. Upon the closing of entries the racing secretary shall promptly compile a list of entries and cause it to be conspicuously posted.

c. Coupling. There will be no coupled entries in any race. In races, excluding stakes races, that overfill, trainers must declare preference of runners with identical ownership at time of entry. Same-owner, second-choice horses will be least preferred. A trainer, owner or licensed designee may not enter more than three horses in a race unless the race is split or divided.

d. Split or divided races.

(1) In the event a race is canceled or declared off, the facility may split any overnight race for which post positions have not been drawn.

(2) Where an overnight race is split, forming two or more separate races, the racing secretary shall give notice of not less than 15 minutes before such races are closed to grant time for making additional entries to such split race.

(3) A trainer shall be allowed to enter more than the maximum number of entries allowed under paragraph 10.6(2)"c" if the entries are declared at time of entry as "split entry only" and preference is given by the trainer for the trainer's first three entries.

(4) The racing secretary shall split an overnight race so that common ownership, identical ownership, or common trainer will divide as equally as possible between two or more races.

e. Entry weight. Owners, trainers, or any other duly authorized person who enters a horse for a race shall ensure that the entry is correct and accurate as to the weight allowances available and claimed for the horse under the conditions set for the race. After a horse is entered and has been assigned a weight to carry in the race, the assignment of weight shall not be changed except in the case of error and with the approval of the stewards. Weight allowances may be waived with the approval of the stewards.

f. Consecutive days. No horse shall be run twice within four consecutive calendar days. For the purpose of this rule, the day after the start shall count as the first day.

g. Foreign entries. For the purposes of determining eligibility, weight assignments, or allowances for horses imported from a foreign nation, the racing secretary shall take into account the "Pattern Race Book" published jointly by the Irish Turf Club, The Jockey Club of Great Britain, and the Société d' Encouragement

h. Weight conversions. For the purpose of determining eligibility, weight assignments, or allowances for horses imported from a foreign nation, the racing secretary shall convert metric distances to English measures by reference to the following scale:

1 sixteenth	= 100 meters
1 furlong	= 200 meters
1 mile	= 1600 meters

i. Name. The "name" of a horse means the name reflected on the certificate of registration, racing permit, or temporary racing permit issued by the breed registry. Imported horses shall have a suffix, enclosed by brackets, added to their registered names showing the country of foaling. This suffix is derived from the international code of suffixes and constitutes part of the horse's registered name. The registered names and suffixes, where applicable, shall be printed in the official program.

j. Bona fide entry. No person shall enter or attempt to enter a horse for a race unless that entry is a bona fide entry, made with the intention that the horse is to compete in the race for which the horse was entered.

k. Registration certificate to reflect correct ownership. Every breed registry foal certificate filed physically or digitally with the racing secretary to establish the eligibility of a horse to be entered for any race shall accurately reflect the correct and true ownership of the horse. The name of the owner that is printed on the official program for the horse shall conform to the ownership as declared on the certificate of registration or eligibility certificate unless a stable name has been registered with the commission for the owner or ownership.

l. Naming/engaging of riders. Riders must be named at the time of entry. If, at the conclusion of the draw of a race, a trainer does not have a rider, all riders who are available shall be made known to the trainer at that time via telephone or in person by the stewards or their designee. A trainer who does not name a rider prior to the conclusion of the draw of a race, and reasonable attempts have been employed to contact the trainer with no response, shall have an available rider engaged at the facility placed on the horse, determination of which shall be drawn by lot. Riders properly engaged as a first or second call in a race must fulfill their engagements as required in paragraph 10.5(2)"l."

m. More than one race. No horse may be entered in more than one race, with the exception of stakes races, to be run on the same day on which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted.

n. Iowa-foaled horse. An Iowa-foaled horse shall not be entered in a race limited to Iowa-foaled horses unless the horse is registered with and the papers are either physically or digitally stamped by the department of agriculture and land stewardship. An Iowa-foaled horse would be allowed to run in an open race without the stamp but would be ineligible for Iowa-bred supplement, Iowa-bred breeders awards and Iowa-bred breeders supplement.

(3) Sweepstakes entries.

a.Entry and withdrawal. The entry of a horse in a sweepstakes is a subscription to the sweepstakes. Before the time of closing, any entry or subscription may be altered or withdrawn.

b.Entrance money. Entrance money shall be paid by the nominator to a race. In the event of the death of the horse or a mistake made in the entry of an otherwise eligible horse, the nominator subscriber shall continue to be obligated for any stakes, and the entrance money shall not be returned.

c. Quarter horse scratches and qualifiers unable to participate in finals. If a horse should be scratched from the time trial finals, the horse's owner will not be eligible for a refund of the fees paid. If a horse that qualified for the final should be unable to enter due to racing soundness, or scratched for any reason other than a positive drug test report or a rule violation, the horse shall be deemed to have earned and the owner will receive last place money. If more than one horse should be unable to enter due to racing soundness, or scratched for any reason other than a positive drug test report or a rule violation, then those purse moneys shall be added together and divided equally among the horse owners.

(4) Closing of entries.

a.Overnight entries. Entries for overnight racing shall be closed at 10 a.m. by the racing secretary, unless a later closing is established by the racing secretary or unless approved by the stewards.

b.Sweepstakes entries. If an hour for closing is designated, entries and declarations for sweepstakes cannot be received thereafter. However, if a time for closing is not designated, entries and declarations may be mailed or faxed until midnight of the day of closing, if they are received in time to comply with all other conditions of the race. In the absence of notice to the contrary, entries and declarations for sweepstakes that close during or on the day preceding a race meeting shall close at the office of the racing secretary in accordance with any requirements the secretary shall make. Closing for sweepstakes not during race meetings shall be at the office of the facility.

c. Exception. Nominations for stakes races shall not close nor shall any eligibility payment be due on a day in which the United States Postal Service is not operating.

(5) Prohibited entries.

a.Entry by disqualified person. An entry made by a disqualified person or the entry of a disqualified horse shall be void. Any money paid for the entry shall be returned, if the disqualification is disclosed at least 45 minutes before post time for the race. Otherwise, the entry money shall be paid to the winner.

b.Limited partner entry prohibited. No person other than a managing partner of a limited partnership or a person authorized by the managing partner may enter a horse owned by that partnership.

c. Altering entries prohibited. No alteration shall be made in any entry after the closing of entries, but the stewards may permit the correction of an error in an entry.

d.Limitation on overnight entries. If the number of entries to any purse or overnight race is in excess of the number of horses that may be accommodated due to the size of the track, the starters for the race and their post positions shall be determined by lot conducted in public by the racing secretary.

e.Stake race entry limit. In a stake race, the number of horses which may compete shall be limited only by the number of horses nominated and entered. In any case, the facility's lawful race conditions shall govern.

f. Stewards' denial of entry. The stewards may, after notice to the entrant, subscriber, or nominator, deny entry of any horse to a race if the stewards determine the entry to be in violation of these rules or the laws of this state or to be contrary to the interests of the commission in the regulation of pari-mutuel wagering or to public confidence in racing.

(6) Preferences and eligibles.

a.Also eligible. A list of not more than eight names may be drawn from entries filed in excess of positions available in the race. These names shall be listed as "also eligible" to be used as entries if originally entered horses are withdrawn. Any owner, trainer, or authorized agent who has entered a horse listed as an "also eligible" and who does not wish to start shall file a scratch card with the secretary not later than the scratch time designated for that race. "Also eligibles" shall have preference to scratch.

b.Preference system. A system using dates or stars shall be used to determine preference for horses being entered in races. The system being used will be at the option of the racing secretary and approved by the stewards. A preference list will be kept current by the racing secretary and made available to horsemen upon request.

c.Disputed decision. When the decision of a race is in dispute, all horses involved in the dispute, with respect to the winner's credit or earnings, shall be liable to all weights or conditions attached to the winning of that race until a winner has been finally adjudged.

(7) Post positions. Post positions shall be determined by the racing secretary publicly and by lot. Post positions shall be drawn from "also eligible" entries at scratch time. In all races, horses drawn into the race from the "also eligible" list shall take the outside post positions, except in straightaway quarter horse racing. In straightaway quarter horse racing, the post position of the scratched horse shall be assigned to the horse "drawing in." In the event there is more than one scratch, the post positions shall be assigned by lot.

(8) Scratch; declaring out.

a.Notification to the secretary. No horse shall be considered scratched, declared out, or withdrawn from a race until the owner, agent, or other authorized person has given notice in writing to the racing secretary before the time set by the facility as scratch time. All scratches must be approved by the stewards.

b.Declaration irrevocable. Scratching or the declaration of a horse out of an engagement for a race is irrevocable.

c.Limitation on scratches. No horse shall be permitted to be scratched from a race if the horses remaining in the race number fewer than seven betting interests, unless the stewards permit a lesser number. When the number of requests to scratch would, if granted, leave a field of fewer than seven, the stewards shall determine by lot which entrants may be scratched and permitted to withdraw from the race. Veterinarian scratches will be preferred and accepted without regard to the number of entries.

d.Scratch time. Unless otherwise set by the stewards, scratch time shall be:

(1) Stakes races. Scratch time shall be at least 45 minutes before post time.

(2) Other races. Scratch time shall be set by the stewards prior to the start of the meet.

(9) Workouts.

a.Thoroughbreds, when required.

(1) No horse shall be allowed to start unless the horse has raced in an official race or has had an approved official timed workout satisfactory to the stewards, and adheres to the following for horses that are not first-time starters:

1. A horse that has not started for a period of 60 days or more shall have had an official workout satisfactory to the stewards prior to the day of the race in which the horse started, and the horse must have had an official workout within the previous 30 days.

2. A horse that has not started for a period of 180 days or more shall have had two official workouts, one of which must have occurred within the previous 30 days prior to the day of the race in which the horse started.

3. A horse that has not started for a period of 365 days or more shall fulfill the following requirements before being allowed to start:

* The horse must have had three official workouts.

* One of the three official workouts must have been from the starting gate going at least one-half mile, within 60 days of starting.

(2) No first-time starter shall be allowed to race unless it has had three official workouts, with one having occurred from the gate within the previous 60 days and is approved to start from the gate by the starter.

b.Quarter horses, when required.

(1) No horse shall be allowed to start unless the horse has raced in an official race or has had an approved official timed workout satisfactory to the stewards, and adheres to the following for horses that are not first-time starters:

1. A horse that has not started for a period of 60 days or more shall be ineligible to race until it has had an official workout satisfactory to the stewards prior to the day of the race in which the horse started, and the horse must have had an official workout within the previous 60 days.

2. A horse that has not started for a period of 180 days or more shall have had two official workouts, one of which must have occurred within the previous 60 days.

3. A horse that has not started for a period of 365 days or more shall fulfill the following requirements before being allowed to start:

* The horse must have had two official workouts.

* One of the two official workouts must have been from the starting gate within 60 days of starting.

(2) No first-time starter shall be allowed to race unless it has had two official workouts, with one having occurred from the gate within the previous 60 days and is approved to start from the gate by the starter.

c.Counting of days. For the purpose of counting the number of days a horse is ineligible to start, the day after the workout shall be considered the first day.

d. Identification. The timer or the stewards may require licensees to identify a horse in their care being worked. The owner, trainer, or jockey may be required to identify the distance the horse is to be worked and the point on the track where the workout will start.

e. Information dissemination. If the stewards approve the timed workout so as to permit the horse to run in a race, they shall make it mandatory that this information be furnished to the public in advance of the race including, but not limited to, the following means:

(1) Announcement over the facility's public address system;

(2) Transmission on the facility's message board;

(3) Posting in designated conspicuous places in the racing enclosure; and

(4) Exhibit on track TV monitors at certain intervals if the track has closed circuit TV. If the workout is published prior to the race in either the Daily Racing Form or the track program, then it shall not be necessary to make the announcements set forth above.

f.Restrictions. No horse shall be taken onto the track for training or a workout except during hours designated by the facility.

(10) Equipment.

a.Whip and bridle limitations. Unless permitted by the stewards, no whip or substitute for a whip shall exceed one pound or 30 inches and no bridle shall exceed two pounds.

b.Equipment change. No licensee may change the equipment used on a horse from that used in the horse's last race, unless with permission of the stewards. No licensee may add blinkers or cheek pieces to a horse's equipment or discontinue their use without the prior approval of the starter. First-time starters must race with or without blinkers or cheek pieces in accordance with the gate approval card issued by the starter. In the paddock prior to a race, a horse's tongue may be tied down with clean bandages, clean gauze, or with a tongue strap.

(11) Racing numbers and silks.

a.Number display. Each horse in a race shall carry a conspicuous saddle cloth number corresponding to the official number given that horse on the official program.

b.Field horses. In a combined field of horses, each horse in the field shall carry a separate number.

c.Racing silks. Racing silks shall be turned in to the racing office or jockey room custodian upon arrival to the facility.

(1) All horses running in a race are required to race in an owner's silk or trainer's silk.

(2) In the case of a partnership, the horse shall run with a managing partner's silk or a trainer's silk if no partnership silk is available.

(3) Under special circumstances, a horse may be permitted by the stewards to run in a house silk.

(12) Valuation of purse money. Rescinded IAB 5/16/01, effective 6/20/01.

(13) Dead heats.

a. When two horses run a dead heat for first place, all purses or prizes to which first and second horses would have been entitled shall be divided equally between them; and this applies in dividing all purses or prizes whatever the number of horses running a dead heat and whatever places for which the dead heat is run.

b. In the event of a dead-heat finish for second place and thereafter, when an objection to the winner of the race is sustained, the horses in the dead heat shall be considered to have run a dead heat for first place.

c. If a prize includes a cup, plate, or other indivisible prize, owners shall draw lots for the prize in the presence of at least two stewards.

(14) and (15) Rescinded IAB 3/27/19, effective 5/1/19.

(16) Equine infectious anemia (EIA) test.

a.Certificate required. No horse shall be allowed to start or be stabled on the premises of the facility unless a valid negative Coggins test or other laboratory-approved negative EIA test certificate is on file with the racing secretary.

b.Trainer responsibility. In the event of claims, sales, or transfers, it shall be the responsibility of the new trainer to ascertain the validity of the certificate for the horse within 24 hours. If the certificate is either unavailable or invalid, the previous trainer shall be responsible for any reasonable cost associated with obtaining a negative EIA laboratory certificate.

c. Positive test reports. Whenever any owner or trainer is furnished a positive Coggins test or positive EIA test result, the horse shall be removed by the owner or trainer from facility premises or approved farms within 24 hours of actual notice to the owner or trainer of the infection.

(17) Race procedures.

a.Full weight. Each horse shall carry the full weight assigned for that race from the paddock to the starting point, and shall parade past the stewards' stand, unless excused by the stewards.

b.Touching and dismounting prohibited. After the horses enter the track, jockeys may not dismount or entrust their horse to the care of an attendant unless due to an accident occurring to the jockey, the horse, or the equipment, and then only with the prior consent of the starter. During any delay during which a jockey is permitted to dismount, all other jockeys may dismount and their horses may be attended by others. After the horses enter the track, only the hands of the jockey, the starter, the assistant starter, the commission veterinarian, an outrider on a lead pony, or persons approved by the stewards may touch the horse before the start of the race. If a horse throws its jockey on the way from the paddock to the post, the horse must be returned to the point where the jockey was thrown, where the horse shall be remounted and then proceed over the route of the parade to the post. The horse must carry its assigned weight from paddock to post and from post to finish.

c.Jockey injury. If a jockey is seriously injured on the way to the post, the horse shall be returned to the paddock, a replacement jockey obtained, and both the injured jockey and the replacement jockey will be paid by the owner.

d.Twelve-minute parade limit. After entering the track, all horses shall proceed to the starting post in not more than 12 minutes unless approved by the stewards. After passing the stewards' stand in parade, the horses may break formation and proceed to the post in any manner. Once at the post, the horses shall be started without unnecessary delay. All horses must participate in the parade carrying their weight and equipment from the paddock to the starting post, and any horse failing to do so may be disqualified by the stewards. No lead pony leading a horse in the parade shall obstruct the public's view of the horse being led except with permission of the stewards.

e.Striking a horse prohibited. In assisting the start of a race, no person other than the jockey, starter, assistant starter, or veterinarian shall strike a horse or use any other means to assist the start.

f.Loading of horses. Horses will be loaded into the starting gate in numerical order or in any other fair and consistent manner determined by the starter and approved by the stewards.

g.Delays prohibited. No person shall obstruct or delay the movement of a horse to the starting post.

(18) Claiming races.

a.Eligibility.

(1) Registered to race or open claim. No person may file a claim for any horse unless the person:

1. Is a licensed owner at the meeting who either has foal paper(s) registered with the racing secretary's office or has started a horse at the meeting; or

2. Is a licensed authorized agent, authorized to claim for an owner eligible to claim; or

3. Has a valid open claim certificate. Any person not licensed as an owner, or a licensed authorized agent for the account of the same, or a licensed owner not having foal paper(s) registered with the racing secretary's office or who has not started a horse at the current meeting may request an open claim certificate from the commission. The person must submit a completed application for a prospective owner's license to the commission. The applicant must have the name of the trainer licensed by the commission who will be responsible for the claimed horse. A nonrefundable fee must accompany the application along with any financial information requested by the commission. The names of the prospective owners shall be prominently displayed in the offices of the commission and the racing secretary. The application will be processed by the commission; and when the open claim certificate is exercised, an owner's license will be issued; or

4. Is not a family member related within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity to the person or ownership entity who owns the horse. For the purpose of determining whether an ownership entity is excluded from claiming a horse or having a horse claimed, a family member within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity shall be defined as a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or in-law who owns or controls 5 percent or more of said entity.

(2) Number of claims.

1. An ownership entity (sole owner, partnership, limited liability partnership, racing stable, corporation, limited liability corporation, or owner/trainer acting as an owner) shall not claim more than one horse in a race. Any commonality of ownership prohibits more than one claim in a race by any of those entities.

2. An authorized agent or trainer acting on behalf of an ownership entity shall not submit more than two claims in a race with two separate ownership interests.

3. A trainer shall not receive more than two horses from any claiming race.

b.Procedure for claiming. To make a claim for a horse, an eligible person shall:

(1) Deposit to the person's account with the horsemen's bookkeeper the full claiming price and applicable taxes as established by the racing secretary's conditions.

(2) File in a locked claim box maintained for that purpose by the stewards the claim filled out completely in writing and with sufficient accuracy to identify the claim on forms provided by the facility at least ten minutes before the time of the race.

c.Claim box.

(1) The claim box shall be approved by the commission and kept locked until ten minutes prior to the start of the race, when it shall be presented to the stewards or their representatives for opening and publication of the claims.

(2) The claim box shall also include a time clock which automatically stamps the time on the claim envelope prior to its being dropped in the box.

(3) No official of a facility shall give any information as to the filing of claims therein until after the race has been run.

d.Claim irrevocable. After a claim has been filed in the claim box, it shall not be withdrawn.

e.Multiple claims on single horses. If more than one claim is filed on a horse, the successful claim shall be determined by lot conducted by the stewards or their representatives.

f.Successful claims; later races.

(1) Sale or transfer. No successful claimant may sell or transfer a horse, except in a claiming race, for a period of 30 days from the date of claim.

(2) Eligibility price. A horse claimed may not start in a race in which the claiming price is less than the amount for which it was claimed. After 30 days, a horse may start for any claiming price. This provision shall not apply to starter handicaps in which the weight to be carried is assigned by the handicapper or for starter allowances. No right, title, or interest for any claimed horse shall be sold or transferred except in a claiming race for a period of 30 days following the date of claiming. The day claimed shall not count, but the following calendar day shall be the first day.

(3) Racing elsewhere. A horse that was claimed under these rules may not participate at a race meeting other than that at which it was claimed until the end of the meeting, except with written permission of the stewards. This limitation shall not apply to stakes races.

(4) Same management. A claimed horse shall not remain in the same stable or under the control or management of its former owner.

(5) When a horse is claimed out of a claiming race, the horse's engagements are included.

g.Transfer after claim.

(1) Forms. Upon a successful claim, the stewards shall issue in triplicate, upon forms approved by the commission, an authorization of transfer of the horse from the original owner to the claimant. Copies of the transfer authorization shall be forwarded to and maintained by the commission, the stewards, and the racing secretary.

(2) No claimed horse shall be delivered by the original owner to the successful claimant until the claim is approved by the stewards. Every horse claimed shall race for the account of the original owner, but title to the horse shall be transferred to the claimant from the time the horse becomes a starter; and said successful claimant becomes the owner of the horse unless the claim is voided by the stewards under the provisions of this paragraph. Only a horse which is officially a starter in the race may be claimed. A subsequent disqualification of the horse by order of the stewards shall have no effect upon the claim.

(3) The stewards shall void the claim and return the horse to the original owner if:

1. The claimed horse suffers a fatality during the running of the race, dies, or is euthanized before leaving the track.

2. The commission veterinarian, during the veterinarian's observation of the horse coming off the track or upon its arrival to the test barn, determines the horse will be placed on the veterinarian's list as lame. The stewards shall not void the claim if, prior to the race in which the horse is claimed, the claimant elects to claim the horse regardless of whether the commission veterinarian determines the horse will be placed on the veterinarian's list as lame. An election made under this rule shall be entered on the claim form.

3. The race is called off, canceled, or declared no contest.

(4) Other-jurisdiction rules. The commission will recognize and be governed by the rules of any other jurisdiction regulating title and claiming races when ownership of a horse is transferred or affected by a claiming race conducted in that other jurisdiction.

(5) Determination of sex and age. The claimant, within 48 hours, shall be responsible for determining the age and sex of the horse claimed notwithstanding any designation of sex and age appearing in the program or in any racing publication. Horses that are spayed or gelded shall be properly identified as such in the program. If the claimant finds that a mare is in fact spayed or that the status of a male horse is inaccurate as stated by the program, the claimant may return the horse for full refund of the claiming price.

(6) Affidavit by claimant. The stewards may, if they determine it necessary, require any claimant to execute a sworn statement that the claimant is claiming the horse for the claimant's own account or as an authorized agent for a principal and not for any other person.

(7) Delivery required. No person shall refuse to deliver a properly claimed horse to the successful claimant. The claimed horse shall be disqualified from entering any race until delivery is made to the claimant.

(8) Obstructing the rules of claiming. No person or licensee shall obstruct or interfere with another person or licensee in claiming any horse, enter into any agreement with another to subvert or defeat the object and procedures of a claiming race, or attempt to prevent any horse entered from being claimed.

h.Elimination of stable. An owner whose stable has been eliminated by claiming may claim for the remainder of the meeting at which eliminated or for 30 racing days, whichever is longer. With the permission of the stewards, stables eliminated by fire or other casualty may claim under this rule.

i. Disallowance of claim. The stewards may cancel and disallow any claim within 24 hours after a race if they determine that a claim was made upon the basis of a lease, sale, or entry of a horse made for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining the privilege of making a claim; or if an eligible claimant improperly obtains information or access to horses by being present in the paddock during the claiming race unless the claimant has a horse in that claiming race, as determined solely by the stewards. In the event of a disallowance, the stewards may further order the return of a horse to its original owner and the return of all claim moneys. To disallow a claim, it must be shown by clear and convincing evidence that there is a direct and substantial connection between the eligible claimant and the owner or owner's trainer of the horse to be claimed wherein the eligible claimant improperly gained information about the horse to be claimed and the information was otherwise unavailable to other licensed owners or ownership entities. The mere appearance of impropriety is not a basis for disallowing a claim.

j.Protest of claim. A protest to any claim must be filed with the stewards before noon of the day following the date of the race in which the horse was claimed. Nonracing days are excluded from this rule. Should the stewards void a claim for reasons other than failure to follow the procedure for claiming, when there are multiple claims on a singular horse, said claim shall not be voided until after the determination by lot.

k.Waived claiming rule. At the time of entry into claiming races, the owner, trainer, or any authorized agent may opt to declare a horse ineligible to be claimed provided:

(1) The horse has not been an official starter at any racetrack for a minimum of 120 days since the horse's last race as an official starter (at time of race);

(2) The horse's last race as an official starter was one in which the horse was eligible to be claimed;

(3) The horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or greater than the claiming price at which the horse last started as an official starter;

(4) Failure of declaration of ineligibility at time of entry may not be remedied; and

(5) Ineligibility to be claimed shall apply only to the horse's first start as an official starter following each such 120-day or longer layoff.

l.Eligibility of in-foal filly or mare. An in-foal filly or mare shall be eligible to be entered into a claiming race only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

(1) Full disclosure of such fact is on file with the racing secretary and such information is posted in the secretary's office;

(2) The stallion service certificate has been deposited with the racing secretary's office before the horse runs;

(3) All payments due for the service in question and for any live progeny resulting from that service are paid in full;

(4) The release of the stallion service certificate to the successful claimant at the time of claim is guaranteed; and

(5) The cutoff for racing is 150 days of gestation.

(19) Quarter horse time trial races.

a. Except in cases where the starting gate physically restricts the number of horses starting, each time trial shall consist of no more than ten horses.

b. The time trials shall be raced under the same conditions as the finals. If the time trials are conducted on the same day, the horses with the ten fastest times shall qualify to participate in the finals. If the time trials are conducted on two days, the horses with the five fastest times on the first day and the horses with the five fastest times on the second day shall qualify to participate in the finals. When time trials are conducted on two days, the racing office should make every attempt to split owners with more than one entry into separate days so that the owner's horses have a chance at all ten qualifying positions.

c. If the facility's starting gate has fewer than ten stalls, then the maximum number of qualifiers will correspond to the maximum number of starting gate post positions.

d. If only 11 or 12 horses are entered to run in time trials from a gate with 12 or more stalls, the facility may choose to run finals only. If 11 or 12 horses participate in the finals, only the first 10 finishers will receive purse money.

e. In the time trials, horses shall qualify on the basis of time and order of finish. The times of the horses in the time trial will be determined to the limit of the timer. The only exception is when two or more horses have the same time in the same trial heat. Then the order of finish shall also determine the preference in the horses' qualifying for the finals. Should two or more horses in different time trials have the same qualifying time to the limit of the timer for the final qualifying position(s), then a draw by public lot shall be conducted as directed by the stewards. Under no circumstances should stewards or placing judges attempt to determine horses' qualifying times in separate trials beyond the limit of the timer by comparing or enlarging a photo finish picture.

f. Except in the case of disqualification, under no circumstances shall a horse qualify ahead of a horse that finished ahead of that horse in the official order of finish in a time trial.

g. Should a horse be disqualified for interference during the running of a time trial, it shall receive the time of the horse it is immediately placed behind plus one hundredth of a second, or the maximum accuracy of the electronic timing device. No adjustments will be made in the times recorded in the time trials to account for headwind, tailwind, and off track. In the case where a horse is disqualified for interference with another horse causing loss of rider or the horse not to finish the race, the disqualified horse may be given no time plus one hundredth of a second, or the maximum accuracy of the electronic timing device.

h. Should a malfunction occur with an electronic timer on any time trial, finalists from that time trial will then be determined by official hand times operated by three official and disinterested persons. The average of the three hand times will be utilized for the winning time, unless one of the hand times is clearly incorrect. In such cases, the average of the two accurate hand times will be utilized for the winning time. The other horses in that race will be given times according to the order and margins of finish with the aid of the photo finish strip, if available.

i. When there is a malfunction of the timer during the time trials, but the timer operates correctly in other time trials, under no circumstances should the accurate electronic times be discarded and the average of the hand times used for all time trials. (The only exemption may be if the conditions of the stakes race so state, or state that, in the case of a malfunction of the timer in trials, finalists will be selected by order of finish in the trials.)

j. In the case where the accuracy of the electronic timer or the average of the hand times is questioned, the video of a time trial may be used to estimate the winning time by counting the number of video frames in the race from the moment the starting gate stall doors are fully open parallel to the racing track. This method is accurate to approximately .03 seconds. Should the case arise where the timer malfunctions and there are no hand times, the stewards have the option to select qualifiers based on the video time.

k. Should there be a malfunction of the starting gate and one or more stall doors not open or open after the exact moment when the starter dispatches the field, the stewards may declare the horses in stalls with malfunctioning doors to be nonstarters. The stewards should have the option, however, to allow any horse whose stall door opened late but still ran a time fast enough to qualify to be declared a starter for qualifying purposes. In the case where a horse breaks through the stall door or the stall door opens prior to the exact moment the starter dispatches the field, the horse must be declared a nonstarter and all entry fees refunded. In the case where one or more, but not all, stall doors open at the exact moment the starter dispatches the field, these horses should be considered starters for qualifying purposes, and placed according to their electronic times. If the electronic timer malfunctions in this instance, the average of the hand times, or, if not available, the video time, should be utilized for the horses that were declared starters.

l. There will be an also eligible list only in the case of a disqualification for a positive drug test report, ineligibility of the horse according to the conditions of the race, or a disqualification by the stewards for a rule violation. Should a horse be disqualified for a positive drug test report, ineligibility of the horse according to the conditions of the race, or a disqualification by the stewards for a rule violation, the next fastest qualifier shall assume the disqualified horse's position in the finals.

m. If a horse should be scratched from the time trials, the horse's owner will not be eligible for a refund of the fees paid, and that horse will not be allowed to enter the finals under any circumstances. If a horse that qualified for the finals is unable to enter due to racing soundness or is scratched for any reason other than a positive drug test report or a rule violation, the horse shall be deemed to have earned, and the owner will receive, last place purse money. If more than one horse if scratched from the finals for any reason other than a positive drug test report or a rule violation, then the purse moneys shall be added together and divided equally among the owners.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 491-10.6

ARC 7757B, lAB 5/6/09, effective 6/10/09; ARC 9987B, lAB 2/8/12, effective 3/14/12

Amended by IAB February 18, 2015/Volume XXXVII, Number 17, effective 3/25/2015

Amended by IAB March 30, 2016/Volume XXXVIII, Number 20, effective 5/4/2016

Amended by IAB February 1, 2017/Volume XXXIX, Number 16, effective 3/8/2017

Amended by IAB January 31, 2018/Volume XL, Number 16, effective 3/7/2018

Amended by IAB March 27, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 20, effective 5/1/2019

Amended by IAB February 26, 2020/Volume XLII, Number 18, effective 4/1/2020

Amended by IAB February 10, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 17, effective 3/17/2021

Amended by IAB February 9, 2022/Volume XLIV, Number 16, effective 3/16/2022