N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 4108.2

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 4108.2 - Classified races

(a) Classification by racing secretary. The racing secretary, according to the racing secretary's judgment, shall assign horses eligible for classification by gait to not more than the following classes based upon ability as demonstrated by past performances: FFA (Free-For-All), JFA (Junior-Free-All), AA, A, B, C, D, and where feasible, into not more than three subclasses designated by number within classes AA, A, B, C, and D. Such assignment shall be made when a horse is first accepted for racing at the track and all such assignments and changes thereof shall be posted in the declaration room.

(b) Races to be based on class. Races shall be offered based upon such classes and where applicable subclasses, and shall be confined to horses posted in the same or slower class or subclass at the time of declaration with preference being given to horses posted in the advertised class or subclass. Starters shall be determined by lot. A race may be conditioned for two or more classes or subclasses, in which case it shall be deemed a handicap race and post positions shall be drawn by class or subclass with the slower class or subclass nearer the rail.

(c) Eligibility for classification.

(1) A horse four years or older is eligible for classification.

(2) A two- or three-year-old horse may be classified only if it has won three purse races, each for a purse exceeding $450, or two wins and two seconds in such races, or if it has been previously classified, or if the owner or trainer thereof requests in writing that the horse be classified. However such request may be denied by the racing secretary. When a two- or three-year-old horse first becomes eligible for classification it may not be classified higher than C.

(d) Changes in classification. A horse may be advanced or moved back to any class or subclass if the horse's performance in the judgment of the racing secretary, demonstrates that it should be so moved to be properly classified, except that a two-or three-year-old horse may not be advanced to a higher class through AA for the first time until it shall have had at least two starts in the next lower class.

(e) Basis of classification. Classification and changes in classification shall be based upon all performances of a horse, both classified and nonclassified, after it has become eligible for classification. Classification at other tracks may be disregarded. In classifying a two- or three- year-old horse all starts of such horse after it would have become eligible for classified racing shall be considered as having been made in classified races at the present track. Double dashes and any heat racing shall be considered as one race.

(f) Preferred races barred. Preferred races may not be conducted in conjunction with classified races but one invitational race per week at each gait may be conducted for the fastest horses at the meeting.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 4108.2