Understanding the AGCO’s Temporary Amendments to the Qualifying Rules for Standardbred Horses

To prepare for the return to racing, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is actively reviewing Ontario’s horse racing rules and regulations to ensure responsible measures are taken to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Of these, several temporary rule changes are being introduced with the aim of reducing the number of horses that are required to qualify. 

Summary of Changes:

• Any horse that has a clean charted line between February 1 and March 19, 2020 will not be required to qualify upon the restart of racing, provided that the horse is entered to race within the first 60 clear days following the restart of racing.
  • Any horse that was racing or eligible to race during that time will be eligible when racing resumes, provided they enter within 60 clear days. For example, assuming that the first race date is on June 5, 2020 it can be entered up to and including August 4, 2020.
• The number of days in which a horse must have a clean charted line in order to be entered to race will increase from 45 clear days to 60 clear days. 
• A horse can make a break in or off a qualifier and still enter into an overnight event, provided its previous start was a clean charted line within 60 clear days. 

Horses on the Judges’ List

• Any horse that was on the Judges’ List for two consecutive breaks must qualify.
• A horse that was on the Judges’ List for performance when racing shut down on March 20, 2020 will remain on the Judges’ List and must qualify.
• A horse that was on the Judges’ List for breaks (in and off a qualifier) when racing shut down, and has a clean charted qualifying line prior to that break, between February 1, 2020 and March 19, 2020 will be taken off the Judges’ List and will be eligible to race.

By way of example, there are three scenarios provided below, assuming racing resumes on June 5, 2020:

• Scenario One:
  • A horse that raced between February 1 and March 19, 2020 with a clean charted line within qualifying time.
    • Outcome: that horse is eligible and can be entered in an overnight or added money event within the first 60 clear days of racing resuming.
• Scenario Two:
  • A horse’s last race was a break; however, its previous line between February 1, 2020 and March 19, 2020 was a clean charted line in an overnight, qualifier or added money event within qualifying time.
    • Outcome: That horse can be entered in an overnight or added money event within the first 60 days of racing.
    • If that horse breaks in its next charted line in an overnight, qualifier or added money event, the horse will be required to qualify, since it will have two consecutive breaks (as per AGCO Rule 12.10.01).

• Scenario Three:
  • A horse’s last race was a break and its previous clean charted line was prior to February 1, 2020.
    • Outcome: The horse must qualify.

Added Money Events

For Added Money Events, the horse’s last three lines will be used whether they occurred in the February 1, 2020 through March 19, 2020 timeframe or within the first 60 days of racing.

By way of example, and assuming racing resumes on June 5, 2020:

• Entering on or before August 4, 2020:
  • The horse’s last three charted lines will be used to determine if it is eligible for an added money event, whether those lines occurred between February 1 and March 19, 2020, or after racing resumes.

• Entering after August 4, 2020:
  • The last three charted lines within 60 clear days of the declaration date will be used to determine if a horse is eligible to an added money event.

• Scenario One:
  • A horse named Old Lightning is an Ontario-Sired three-year-old colt trotter.
  • Old Lightning qualified at Mohawk on March 5, 2020 in 2.00.1;
  • Old Lightning then raced on March 16, 2020 and made a break. As a result, Old Lightning was placed on the Judges’ list.
  • The outcome for Old Lightning is:
    • Old Lightning has been taken off the Judges’ List for breaks and can be entered into an added money event or overnight race, without qualifying.
    • Old Lightning must be entered within 60 clear days of June 5, 2020, i.e.  entered on or by August 4, 2020.
    • If Old Lightning is not entered by August 4, 2020, the horse must qualify.
    • If Old Lightning makes a break in its next charted line, the horse must qualify due to two consecutive breaks.
    • Racing Officials will use Old Lightning’s charted lines from March 5, 2020 and March 16, 2020 as eligibility for an added money event until they no longer count as one of their last three charted lines within 60 clear days.

The AGCO will continue to monitor the situation to determine how long this measure will be in effect. The regulator is also consulting with public health officials as well as other racing jurisdictions to inform any additional actions.

If you have any questions, please contact Rob McKay: (289) 339-2380 or Dave Stewart: (289) 244-5268.