3 Del. Admin. Code § 501-1.0
"Act" is Chapter 100 of Title 3 of the Delaware Code.
"Added Money" is the amount exclusive of trophy added into a stakes by the association, or by sponsors, state-bred programs or other funds added to those monies gathered by nomination, entry, sustaining and other fees coming from the horsemen.
"Age" of a horse foaled in North America shall be reckoned from the first day of January of the year of foaling.
"Also Eligible" pertains to a number of eligible horses, properly entered, which were not drawn for inclusion in a race, but which become eligible according to preference or lot if an entry is scratched prior to the scratch time deadline.
"Appeal" is a request for the Commission or its designee to investigate, consider and review any decisions or rulings of steward/judges of a meeting.
"Association" is a person or business entity holding a license from the commission to conduct racing and/or pari-mutuel wagering.
"Association Grounds" is all real property utilized by the association in the conduct of its race meeting, including the racetrack, grandstand, concession stands, offices, barns, stable area, employee housing facilities and parking lots and any other areas under the jurisdiction of the Commission.
"Authorized Agent" is a person licensed by the Commission and appointed by a written instrument, signed and acknowledged before a notary public by the owner in whose behalf the agent will act.
"Betting Interest" is one or more horses in a pari-mutuel contest which are identified by a single program number for wagering purposes.
"Bleeder" is a horse which has demonstrated external evidence of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (epistaxis, or bleeding from one or both nostrils) and/or the existence of hemorrhage into the trachea post exercise as observed upon endoscopic examination.
"Bleeder List" is a tabulation of all bleeders to be maintained by the Commission.
"Claiming Race" is a race in which any horse starting may be claimed (purchased for a designated amount) in conformance with the rules.
"Commission" is the Delaware Harness Racing Commission.
"Conditioned Race" is an overnight race to which eligibility is determined according to specified conditions which include age, sex, earnings, number of starts and position of finishes.
"Controlled Substance" is any substance included in the five classification schedules of the (U.S.) Controlled Substance Act of 1970.
"Coupled Entry" is two or more contestants in a contest that are treated as a single betting interest for pari-mutuel wagering purposes (also see "Entry").
"Course" is the track over which horses race.
"Dead Heat" is the finish of a race in which the noses of two or more horses reach the finish line at the same time.
"Declaration" is the naming of a particular horse as a starter in a particular race.
"Draw" is the process of assigning post positions and the process of selecting contestants in a manner to ensure compliance with the conditions of the rules of racing.
"Driver" is a person who is licensed to drive in races.
"Early Closing Race" is a race for a definite amount of money to which entries close at least six weeks prior to the race.
"Entry" (see "Coupled Entry").
"Exhibition Race" is a race on which no wagering is permitted.
"Extended Break" of a horse is a horse that is not on its proper gait for 25 consecutive strides or more after the start of the race.
"Financial Interest" is an interest that could result directly or indirectly in receiving a pecuniary gain or sustaining a pecuniary loss as a result of ownership or interest in a horse or business entity; or as a result of salary, gratuity or other compensation or remuneration from any person. The lessee and lessor of a horse have a financial interest.
"Guest Association" is an association which offers licensed pari-mutuel wagering on contests conducted by another association (the host) in either the same jurisdiction or another jurisdiction.
"Handicap" is a race in which allowances are made according to a horse's age, sex, claiming price and performance.
"Handle" is the total amount of all pari-mutuel wagering sales excluding refunds and cancellations.
"Host Association" is the association conducting a licensed pari-mutuel meeting from which authorized contests or entire performances are simulcast.
"In Harness" is when the horses are attached to a dual shaft sulky. All sulkies used in a race must be equipped with unicolored or colorless wheel discs of a type approved by the Commission and placed on the inside and outside of the wheel. Any change in the basic design of a sulky and/or major equipment shall require Commission approval. Rules, regulations, standards and/or guidelines affecting the use of any new sulky and/or equipment must be approved by the Commission before their adoption.
"Inquiry" is when the judges suspect that a foul or any other misconduct occurred during a heat or dash.
"Kicking" is a blow or thrust with the foot against any part of the horse's body or to impel by striking with the foot at any time on the racetrack, including before, during or after the race.
"Late Closing Race" is a race for a fixed amount of money to which entries close less than six weeks but not more than three days before the race is to be contested.
"Length" is the distance defined as extending from a horse's nose to the posterior of the hindquarters. A length shall not include the space occupied by the driver or sulky beyond the horse's hindquarters.
"Licensee" is any person or entity holding a license from the Commission to engage in racing or a regulated activity.
"Maiden" is a stallion, mare or gelding that has never won a heat or race at the gait at which it is entered to start and for which a purse is offered; provided, however, that other provisions of these Rules notwithstanding, races and/or purse money awarded to a horse after the 'Official Sign' has been posted shall be considered winning performance and effect status as a maiden, and in such cases a horse placed first by virtue of disqualification shall acquire a win race record only if such horse's actual time can be determined by photo finish or electronic timing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 7.2.1.
"Match Race" is a race between two or more horses under conditions agreed to by their owners.
"Matinee Race" is a race in which no entrance fee is charged and where the premiums, if any, are other than money.
"Meeting" is the specified period and dates each year during which an association is authorized to conduct racing and/or pari-mutuel wagering by approval of the Commission.
"Minus Pool" occurs when the amount of money to be distributed on winning wagers is in excess of the amount of money comprising the net pool.
"Mutuel Field" is two or more contestants treated as a single betting interest for pari-mutuel wagering purposes because the number of betting interests exceeds the number that can be handled individually by the pari-mutuel system.
"Net Pool" is the amount of gross ticket sales less refundable wagers and statutory commissions.
"No Contest" is a race canceled for any reason by the stewards/judges.
"Nomination" is the naming of a horse to a certain race or series of races generally accompanied by payment of a prescribed fee.
"Objection" is a verbal claim of foul in a race lodged by the horse's driver.
"Off Time" is the moment at which, on the signal of the official starter, the starting gate is opened, officially dispatching the horses in each contest.
"Official Order of Finish" is the order of finish of the horses in a contest as declared official by the judges.
"Official Starter" is the official responsible for dispatching the horses for a race.
"Official Time" is the elapsed time from the moment the first horse crosses the timing beam until the first horse crosses the finish line.
"Optional Claiming Race" is a conditioned race in which a horse may be entered for a stated claiming price. In the case of horses entered to be claimed in such a race, the race shall be considered, for the purpose of these rules, a claiming race. In the case of horses not entered to be claimed in such a race, the race shall be considered a conditioned race.
"Overnight Race" is a contest for which declarations close not more than seven days, omitting Sunday, before the date on which it will be contested. In the absence of conditions or notice to the contrary, declarations must close not later than 6:00 p.m. of the day preceding the race.
"Owner" is a person who holds any title, right or interest, whole or partial in a horse, including the lessee and lessor of a horse.
"Paddock" is an enclosure in which horses scheduled to compete in a contest are confined prior to racing.
"Pari-Mutuel System" is the manual, electro-mechanical or computerized system and all software (including the totalisator, account betting system and off-site betting equipment) that is used to record bets and transmit wagering data.
"Pari-Mutuel Wagering" is a form of wagering on the outcome of an event in which all wagers are pooled and held by an association for distribution of the total amount, less the deductions authorized by law, to holders of tickets on the winning horses.
"Patron" is a member of the public present on the grounds of a pari-mutuel association during a meeting for the purpose of wagering or to observe racing.
"Person" is any individual, partnership, corporation or other association or entity.
"Post Position" is the preassigned position from which a horse will leave the starting gate.
"Post Time" is the scheduled starting time for a contest.
"Primary Laboratory" is a facility designated by the Commission for the testing of samples.
"Principal Trainer" is the trainer listed on the race program.
"Programmed" means listed in the official program made available for sale or distribution to the public.
"Protest" is a written complaint alleging that a horse is ineligible to race.
"Purse" is the total cash amount for which a race is contested.
"Race" is a contest between horses at a licensed meeting.
"Requalifying Test" An analysis of any biological substance procured from a horse that has been deemed ineligible to perform in any race or official workout due to a violation of DHRC medication rules. A requalifying test is taken when a horse is out-of-competition and/or on the Stewards and/or Veterinarians list. A requalifying test is taken with the intent of providing a negative test of prohibited substances or to show compliance with permissible thresholds.
"Required Days Off" horses restricted from racing for a specified number of days will start their days the day of the scheduled race.
"Restricted Area" is an enclosed portion of the association grounds to which access is limited to licensees whose occupation or participation requires access.
"Result" is that part of the official order of finish used to determine the pari-mutuel payout of pools for each individual contest.
"Rules" are the Rules of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission.
"Satisfactory Charted Line" is one that meets the standards at the track at which a horse participates.
"Scoring" is the preliminary practice given to horses after the post parade and prior to being called to line up for the start of a race by the official starter.
"Scratch" is the act of withdrawing an entered horse from a contest after the closing of entries.
"Simulcast" is the live audio and visual transmission of a contest to another location for pari-mutuel wagering purposes.
"Split Sample Laboratory" is a facility approved by the Commission to test split samples.
"Stakes Race" is a race which will be contested in a calendar year subsequent to the closing of nominations.
"Sulky" is a dual wheel racing vehicle with dual shafts not exceeding the height of the horse's withers. Shafts must be hooked separately on each side.
"Totalisator" is the system used for recording, calculating, and disseminating information about ticket sales, wagers, odds and payoff prices to patrons at a pari-mutuel wagering facility.
"Trainer" is an individual who receives any compensation, either directly or indirectly, for training the horse or who performs any of the criteria in subsections 5.3.1.3.1 through 5.3.1.3.5. The trainer(s) is (are) the person or persons to whom trainer-related penalties shall apply in the event of a rule violation. In addition, there is a presumption that domestic partners that are individually licensed by the Commission will both be considered as trainer.
"Tubing" is the administration of any substance via a naso-gastric tube.
"Veterinarian" is a veterinary practitioner licensed by the State of Delaware under Title 24, Chapter 33 of the Delaware Code and authorized to practice at the race track.
"Veterinary Technician" is a technician licensed by the State of Delaware under Title 24, Chapter 33 of the Delaware Code and authorized to practice at the race track. Veterinary Technicians are authorized by the Commission to administer Bleeder medications and take samples of blood and urine, both under the supervision of a veterinarian.
3 Del. Admin. Code § 501-1.0
2 DE Reg. 1068 (01/01/99)
5 DE Reg. 832 (10/01/01)
11 DE Reg. 1050 (02/01/08)
22 DE Reg. 47 (7/1/2018)
22 DE Reg. 467 (12/1/2018)
23 DE Reg. 556 (1/1/2020)
26 DE Reg. 831 (4/1/2023) (Final)