Section 017-9-6 - Conditions1. All races will be one mile, and will be conducted under the rules of the Maine Harness Racing Commission.2. Unless otherwise specified in the conditions, declaration time shall be 9:00 a.m. and the box shall close at that time.3. There shall be no more than one division unless there are more than nine declarations at a track that can score eight abreast; eight declarations at a track that can score seven abreast; or, seven declarations at a track that can score six abreast. No division shall be made where one division has more than one starter more than the remaining divisions.4. Race secretaries must divide 2 and 3-year-old pacing entries by sex. Beginning with foals resulting from the year 2000 breeding season and thereafter Race Secretaries must divide all entries by sex.5. If an Association utilizes a detention barn for stake races, all applicable paddock rules shall apply to the detention barn.6. Two and three year old trotters and pacers that have been scratched as sick or lame from a Maine Standardbred Breeders stakes event any time after being declared in, must have a well slip from a licensed veterinarian stating the colt or filly is fit to race before a declaration to start can be valid.7. The final event shall be the last stakes event contested in the racing season for each division and shall be limited to the eight highest point winners declared in to race and eligible to start. If two or more horses are tied in points for eighth (8th) position for the final race, the eighth starter shall be drawn by lot. Two also eligibles may be drawn and programmed, based on points earned during the year and the highest point winner shall be moved in first in the event of a scratch. If the also eligibles are tied in points earned the same procedure shall be used as outlined above for the eighth starter.
Final events that do not fill with point winners may be filled with 2 and 3 year olds that have participated in at least one leg of their stake division and drawn by lot.
9.Consolation Final1. A Consolation Final may be offered for each Sire Stakes Division. No horse eligible for the final event, except for also eligible entries programmed but did not participate in the final event, shall be eligible for the Consolation Final. Horses eligible for the Consolation Final shall be the next highest point earners in each division after those eligible for and participating in the final event. All Consolation Final horses must have participated in at least one leg of their stake division. In the event two or more horses tie in points for the eighth position for the Consolation Final, the eighth starter shall be drawn by lot. Two also eligibles may be drawn and programmed, based on points earned during the year and the highest point winner shall be drawn in first in the event of a scratch. If the also eligibles are tied in points earned the same procedure shall be used as outlined above for the eighth starter. No Consolation Final may be programmed with less than six eligible horses.2. Monies for each Consolation Final shall be set aside from the Sire Stakes Purse Fund.3. Declarations for the Final and Consolation Final Races must be made at the time declarations are due for the Final Events. The top eight point winning horses and up to two also eligibles will be drawn in to the Final Events. The remaining horses that have declared in will be drawn in to the Consolation Final pursuant to Chapter 9, Section 6, subsection 8.1. 4. No Consolation Final may be programmed unless there are eight entries in the Final Event.