15.01.01 A trainer may claim horses on behalf of an owner(s) only if he/she is properly licensed as an Authorized Agent for that owner(s).
15.01 No horse will be eligible to start in a claiming race unless the owner has provided written/electronic authorization, which must include the minimum price for which the horse may be claimed, to the race secretary at least one hour prior to post time of its race. If the horse is owned by more than one party, all parties must sign the authorization. Any question relating to the validity of a claiming authorization shall be referred to the Judges who shall have the authority to disallow a declaration or scratch the horse if they deem the authorization to be improper.
15.02 Unless a horse is on the electronic registration system, the registration certificate in current ownership must be filed with the race secretary for all horses claimed within forty-eight (48) hours after the race from which the horse was claimed. All horses claimed out of a claiming race will automatically be put on electronic registration by Standardbred Canada (See Rule 15.19).
15.03
Colts, Stallions, Geldings and Spayed Mares | Fillies and Mares | |
---|---|---|
2-year-old | 75% | 100% |
3-year-old | 50% | 75% |
4-year-old | 25% | 50% |
5-year-old and older | 0 | 25% |
Claiming prices recorded on past performance lines in the daily race program and on eligibility certificates shall not include allowances.
15.04 The claiming price, including any allowances, of each horse shall be printed on the official program adjacent to the horse’s program number and claims shall be for the amount designated, subject to correction if printed in error. Claiming prices given in past performance lines in programs and in the official performance records shall not include allowances.
15.05 In handicap claiming races, in the event of an also eligible horse moving into the race, the also eligible horse shall take the place of the horse that it replaces provided that the handicap is the same. In the event the handicap is different, the also eligible horse shall take the position on the outside of horses with a similar handicap, except when the horse that is scratched is a trailing horse, in which case the also eligible horse shall take the trailing position, regardless of its handicap. In handicap claiming races with one trailer, the trailer shall be determined as the 4th best post position unless otherwise mandated by the Registrar.
15.06.01 To be eligible to be claimed a horse must start in the event in which it has been declared to race. For the purposes of this rule, a horse shall be deemed to have started when the horse’s nose has reached the starting line. If a horse that has been drawn in to start in a claiming race in Ontario is scratched for reason other than being ineligible to the race, the horse shall be subject to claim in its next start in Ontario, provided such start occurs within 30 days of the date of the scratch, regardless of type and condition of the race, at the claiming price it was subject to in the race in which it was scratched. Where a horse drawn in to start in a claiming race has been declared to start in a subsequent race, the successful claimant, if any, of the horse, in the first race shall have the option of scratching the horse from the subsequent race and the 30 day provision of this section will not apply.
15.06.02 A horse may be exempt from rules 15.01 and 15.06 if it meets the following criteria:
An Association shall note a declaration of exemption in the official program.
15.07 Any person or the authorized agent of such person who holds a current valid Commission licence may claim any horse, or any person who has properly applied for and been granted a claiming certificate shall be permitted to claim any horse. Any person or authorized agent eligible to claim a horse shall be allowed access to the grounds of the Association in order to effect a claim at the designated place of making claims and to take possession of the horse claimed.
15.08 Claiming certificates are valid on day of issue and are valid for up to 1 year.
15.09
15.10 Prohibitions on claims:
15.11 Claiming procedure:
15.12 When a claim has been lodged it is irrevocable, and is at the risk of the claimant.
15.13 In the event more than one claim is submitted for the same horse, the successful claimant shall be determined by lot by the Judges, and all unsuccessful claims involved in the decision by lot shall, at that time, become null and void, notwithstanding any future disposition of such claim.
15.14 Upon determining that a claim is valid, the Judges shall forthwith notify the paddock judge of the name of the horse claimed, the name of the claimant and the name of the person to whom the horse is to be delivered. Also, the Judges shall cause a public announcement of the claim to be made prior to the race.
15.15 Every horse entered in a claiming race shall race for the account of the owner who declared it in the event, but title to a claimed horse shall be vested in the successful claimant from the time the horse is deemed to have started, and the successful claimant shall become the owner of the horse, whether it be alive or dead, or sound or unsound, or injured during or after the race. If a horse is claimed out of a heat or dash of an event having multiple heats or dashes, the Judges shall scratch the horse from any subsequent heat or dash of the event.
15.16 Deleted.
15.16.01 Transfer of possession of a claimed horse to the successful claimant or their representative shall take place in the paddock immediately after the running of the race. Altering or removing the horse’s shoes prior to the transfer is not permitted.
15.16.02 Notwithstanding the requirements under 15.16.01, in the case where a claimed horse must submit for post race testing, physical custody of the claimed horse shall transfer from the original owner to the successful claimant outside the retention area following completion of the test and after the sample tags have been signed by the original owner or their representative.
15.17 Any person who refuses to deliver a horse legally claimed out of a claiming race shall be suspended, together with the horse, until delivery is made.
15.18 A claimed horse shall not be eligible to start in any race in the name or interest of the original owner for 30 days, unless reclaimed out of another claiming race. Nor shall such horse remain in or be returned to the same stable or care or management of the first owner or trainer for the same period of 30 days, unless reclaimed out of another claiming race.
15.19 The claiming price shall be paid to the original owner only when the Judges are satisfied that the successful claim is valid and the registration certificate has been received by the race secretary for transfer to the new owner (See Rule 15.02).
15.20.01 The Judges, shall rule a claim invalid:
15.20.02 In the event that the sex of a claimed horse has been inaccurately described in the racing program, the claimant or his/her authorized representative must notify the Judges of the error within a one half (½) hour from the time that the horse is physically retrieved by the claimant or his/her authorized representative whether he/she wishes to retain the horse. If the claimant or his/her authorized representative fails to notify the Judges of the error within this prescribed time, the claimant shall be deemed to have accepted the horse so claimed.
15.21 Mares and fillies who are in foal are ineligible to claiming races. If a claimant determines within 48 hours that a claimed filly or mare is in foal, he/she may, at their option, return the horse to the original owner.
15.22 When the Judges rule that a claim is invalid and the horse is returned to the original owner: