Section 017-5-5 - Purse Money1.Distribution of Purse Money. When an Association submits an application for race dates to the Commission in accordance with 8 M.R.S. §271(2),it shall submit a purse distribution plan to the Commission for approval. Said plan should describe any carryover funding, estimated revenue, estimated average per dash purse payments, a general description of range of purses, claiming race purses, preferred races, series, and planned carryover. 2.Purse Money. Harness racing purse checks shall be made available no later than five (5) business days after the race has become official. Any purse check that is to be mailed must be postmarked no later than five (5) business days after the race has become official. In the case of purse money relating to Sires Stakes races, purse checks maybe paid in person, or, if mailed, postmarked, by the later of five business days after the race has become official or three business days after the Association has received purse money for that race from the Department. The owner of a horse must file the necessary documentation required by the Association to fulfill the requirement(s) of the United States Internal Revenue Service. The Association may withhold payment until the necessary documentation is filed with the Association. The said information must be posted in the race secretary's office and be conspicuously posted in the paddock. Any portion of a purse affected by an appeal or protest shall be held until the appeal or protest is finalized.3.Payment of Purses: Any Association that the Commission finds in default in the payment, of purses in accordance with these rules shall, after a hearing before the Commission, be suspended, together with its officers.4.Payments: If at a meeting of a licensed Association, a race is contested which has been promoted by another party or parties, and the promoters thereof default in the payment of the amount raced for, the same liability shall attach to the licensed Association as if the race had been offered by such licensed Association.5.Amendment of Plans/Disbursement and Allocation of Purse Funds: A. The Department shall distribute purse funds to eligible, currently licensed tracks in accordance with the the schedules and formulas described in 8 M.R.S. §§290 and 298, and in a manner consistent with basic per-dash equity between tracks.B. The Commission may direct the Department to vary from the schedules and formulas described in 8 M.R.S. §§290 and 298 when it finds that such variance is necessary to achieve the level of funding in the purse distribution plans approved for each Association.C. Associations shall file amended purse distribution plans upon any changes in the number of race dates that the Association plans to conduct during the racing year.D. The Commission shall review any amended plan forthwith, and determine whether purse funds should be returned or augmented based on the changes contained therein. In making such determinations, the Commission shall strive to ensure basic per-dash equity in purse fund availability for all licensed tracks operating within a given racing year. 6.Track Closure : In the event that a licensed track ceases operation permanently, the Department shall adjust purse fund distribution described under 8 M.R.S. §§290 and 298 in a manner intended to ensure that funds in excess of those required to pay obligated purses are not distributed to the track.7. Facilitation of New Tracks: In the event that a previously unlicensed track is approved by the Commission and begins operation, the Department shall adjust purse fund disbursements pursuant to the approved purse distribution plan such that the new track is afforded purse funds consistent with the other licensed tracks.