W. Va. Code R. § 178-1-39

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 178-1-39 - Entries and Nominations

39.1. Entries. The following provisions apply to entries:

39.1.a. A horse shall not be qualified to start in any race unless the horse has been entered and is qualified at the time of starting for the race in which it has been entered.

39.1.b. No person shall willfully enter, or cause to be entered, or start a horse in a race, when he or she knows or believes the horse to be ineligible or disqualified.

39.1.c. A person who does not have an interest in a horse that is at least equal to the ownership interest of any other individual owner may not enter the horse in a race as the owner.

39.1.d. One (1) or more of the owners of a horse may make joint subscriptions and entries. However, each owner is jointly and separately liable for all fees.

39.1.e. A horse must be eligible at the time of starting.

39.1.f. No horse owned by multiple owners shall be permitted to enter or to start until the owners have complied with rules for the permitting of multiple owners as set forth in subsection 25.2. of this rule.

39.1.g. If the association's racing secretary receives an entry from any disqualified person or a disqualified horse, the entry is void and any money paid for that entry shall be returned if the disqualification is disclosed 45 or more minutes before post time for the race. Otherwise, any money shall be paid to the winner.

39.1.h. The association's racing secretary shall not accept an entry from spouses while either is disqualified from racing if the spouse is also a trainer.

39.2. Procedure. The following provisions apply to the procedure for entries:

39.2.a. For all races, the association's racing secretary or his or her assistants are authorized to receive entries.

39.2.b. Entries shall be made in writing, by telephone, by facsimile or by electronic means approved by the Racing Commission. Each association shall provide blank forms on which written entries may be made. Upon the request of the association's racing secretary or the stewards, any entry not made in writing shall be confirmed in writing.

39.2.c. When a horse is entered, it must be clearly identified by stating its age, sex, name, color, and the names of its sire and dam.

39.2.d. The stewards may refuse an entry of any person, or the transfer of any entry, with notice and the reason given.

39.2.e. The entry of a horse shall be in the name of his or her valid owner.

39.2.f. The association's racing secretary shall immediately compile and conspicuously display the number of entries upon the closing of all overnight races.

39.2.g. Alterations shall not be made in any entry after closing of entries, except correction of errors approved by the stewards.

39.3. Entries of Horses Having Common Ties. The following provisions apply to entries of horses having common ties through ownership or training:

39.3.a. No more than two (2) horses having common ties through ownership or training may be entered in an overnight race. When horses having common ties through ownership or training are entered in an overnight race, preference by date on the day of entry shall be given. Provided, however, when making an entry involving two (2) horses having common ties through ownership, a preference for one (1) of the horses must be made and both of such horses having common ties may not start to the exclusion of a single entry.

39.3.b. In a stakes race, futurity or other special event, any two (2) or more horses entered that are owned in whole or in part by the same owner or trained by the same trainer shall be given an equal draw according to the eligibility conditions of the race.

39.3.c. In any race ordered split by the association's racing secretary into two (2) or more divisions, horses in an entry involving horses having common ties through ownership or training shall be seeded in separate divisions and separated.

39.4. Closings. The following provisions apply to the closing of entries:

39.4.a. The association's racing secretary shall close all entries at an advertised time with no entry accepted thereafter. The association's racing secretary, however, may postpone closing or filling of overnight races. Provided that, if the association's racing secretary postpones the closing or filling of one or more overnight races past the advertised time, he or she shall postpone the closing or filling of all other overnight races until the same time.

39.4.b. For futurity races, if a horse is not named through the entry box at the published time of closing, the horse shall be denied entry.

39.4.c. No races shall be drawn or cancelled until such time as all races comprising the racing card have been filled.

39.5. Number of Starters in a Race. The following provisions apply to the number of starters in a race:

39.5.a. The maximum number of starters in any race shall be limited to the number of starting positions afforded by the association starting gate and its extensions. The number of starters may be further limited by the number of horses which, in the opinion of the stewards, can be afforded a safe, fair and equal start.

39.5.b. If, due to racetrack limitations, the number of entries to any purse race is in excess of the number of horses that may be permitted to start, the horses for the race and their post or starting gate positions, shall be determined by the preference system or the conditions of the race. The same methods shall be employed in determining the horses and post or starting positions in split races.

39.6. Split or Divided Races. The association's racing secretary may split or divide any overnight race.

39.7. Post Positions. The manner of selecting positions of horses at the starting gate shall be determined by lot by the association's racing secretary or his or her designee, in public, at the close of the entries. The horses drawn are entitled to the position at the starting gate corresponding to the number drawn.

39.8. Also-Eligible List. The following provisions apply to the also-eligible list:

39.8.a. If the number of entries for a race exceeds the number of horses permitted to start, the association's racing secretary may create and post an also-eligible list.

39.8.b. If any horse is scratched from a race for which an also-eligible list was created, a replacement horse shall be drawn from the also-eligible list into the race in order of preference.

39.8.c. Any owner or trainer of a horse on the also-eligible list who does not wish to start the horse in such race shall so notify the association's racing secretary prior to scratch time for the race, thereby forfeiting any preference to which the horse may have been entitled.

39.8.d. A horse which draws into a straightaway race from the also-eligible list shall start from the post position vacated by the scratched horse. In the event more than one horse is scratched, post positions of horses drawing in from the also-eligible list shall be determined by public lot.

39.8.e. Horses which draw into a non-straightaway race from the also-eligible list shall start from the outermost post positions.

39.8.f. If a horse is on the also-eligible list and is selected on a subsequent race day, the horse is an automatic scratch or elimination from the eligible list the first day.

39.9. Preferred List. The association's racing secretary shall maintain a list of entered horses eliminated from starting by a surplus of entries, and these horses shall constitute a preferred list and have preference. The manner in which the preferred list shall be maintained and all rules governing such list shall be the responsibility of the association's racing secretary. Such rules must be submitted to the Racing Commission thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the race meeting and are subject to the approval of the Commission.

W. Va. Code R. § 178-1-39