3769-15-21. Elimination heats, divisions

(A) A permit holder must specify how many entries are required for overnight events and after the condition is fulfilled, the event must be contested except when declared off as provided under rule 3769-14-37 of the Administrative Code - postponement of races:

(1) In early closing events or late closing events, if six or more horses are declared in to start, the race must be contested;

(2) Commercial meetings may require five interests to start. Stakes and futurities must be raced if one or more horses are declared in to start;

(3) In an early closing event, if less horses are declared in than are required to start, and all declarers are immediately so notified, the horse or horses declared in and ready to race shall be entitled to all the entrance money and any forfeits from each horse named.

(B) Elimination heats or two divisions:

(1) In any race where the number of horses declared in to start exceeds eleven on a half-mile-track, twelve on a five-eighths-mile track, or fourteen on a larger track, unless lesser numbers are specified in the conditions of the race, at the option of the track conducting the race, the race may be run in elimination heats provided the conditions are so stated before positions are drawn;

(2) In the absence of conditions providing for a lesser number of starters, no more than two tiers of horses, allowing eight feet per horse, will be allowed to start in any race. In no event shall there be allowed more than eleven starters on a half-mile-track, twelve starters on a five-eighths-mile track or fourteen starters on a larger track;

(3) Where a race other than a stake or futurity is divided, each division must race for at least seventy-five per cent of the advertised purse;

(4) At fair meetings, in the case of added money early closing events, and early closers and late closers with a value of twenty thousand dollars or less, the race may be divided and raced in divisions. In such cases each division shall be raced for an equal share of the total purse if the advertised conditions so provide.

(C) Elimination plans:

(1) Whenever elimination heats are required, or specified in the published conditions, such race shall be raced in the following manner unless conducted under another paragraph of this rule. The field shall be divided by lot and the first division shall race a qualifying dash for thirty per cent of the purse. The second division shall race a qualifying dash for thirty per cent of the purse and the horses so qualified shall race in the main event for forty per cent of the purse. The winner of the main event shall be the race winner;

(2) In the event there are more horses declared to start than can be accommodated by the two elimination dashes, then there will be added enough elimination dashes to take care of the excess. The per cent of the purse raced for each elimination dash will be determined by dividing the number of elimination dashes into sixty. The main event will race for forty per cent of the purse;

(3) Unless the conditions provide otherwise, if there are two elimination dashes, the first four finishers in each dash qualify for the final. If three or more elimination dashes are required, not more than three horses will qualify for the final from each qualifying dash;

(4) The judges shall draw the positions in which the horses are to start in the main event as follows: They shall draw positions to determine which of the two dash winners shall have the pole, and which the second position; which of the two horses that have been second shall start in third position; and which in fourth; and continue this pattern until all horses have been drawn. 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;

(5) 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.

(D) In any race where the number of horses declared in to start exceeds eleven on a half-mile-track, twelve on a five-eighths-mile track or fourteen on a one-mile track, unless other numbers are specified in the conditions, the race, at the option of the permit holder conducting same, stated before positions are drawn, may be 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 twenty per cent of the purse each heat. The remaining twenty per cent of the purse shall go to the winner of the final heat.

(E) Whenever elimination heats are required, or specified in the published conditions of a stake or futurity, such race may be raced on the 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 thirty per cent of the purse, the second division shall race for thirty per cent, and the horses qualifying in the first and second divisions shall race the third heat for thirty per cent 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 ten per cent of the purse. The number of horses qualifying to return after each elimination heat will be the same as set out in paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.

(F) Qualifying race for stake. Where qualifying races are provided in the conditions of an early closing event, stake or futurity, such qualifying race must be held not more than five days prior to contesting the main event (excluding Sunday) and omitting the day of the race.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/18/2017 and 10/18/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3769.03
Rule Amplifies: 3769.03
Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/85, 1/1/06

Prior History: (R.C. 119.032 review dates: 09/15/2010 and 09/15/2015
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3769.03
Rule Amplifies: 3769.03
Prior Effective Dates: 1/1/1985, 1/1/2006 )