A. Brief Description of the Issue
When a race card is cancelled due to weather or track conditions, horses and trainers impacted by the cancellation are provided preference for the a replacement card that needs to be redrawn (> 48 hours) after the cancelled card. However, some horses impacted by the cancelled card will fall out of preference.
B. Discussion of the Issue and Problem
What specific problems or concerns are involved in this issue?
The TB rules currently allow for special preference when there is a cancellation. This protects all horses impacted by a cancelled race day.
Who does the issue affect?
The issue affects trainers / owners of horses who lose an opportunity to race due to a cancellation.
What existing HRA rules relate to this issue?
The SB rule regarding preference does not address preference rules when a race card is cancelled. 408 s Preference priority rules Preference is governed by the following: (a) if more than the required number of *horses are declared in to a *race with the same preference date, the previous preference dates apply; (b) (c) when a horse is racing for the first time at the gait declared for it, it has preference for its first start over other horses, regardless of their preference dates; when a horse is entered for its second lifetime start it has preference over horses that have started twice or more and have an equal preference date to single starter
C. Possible Solutions and Impact
What solution does this proposal provide?
The proposal addresses a current gap in the SB rules and specifies special preference for horses impacted by a cancellation.
How will the solution fix the problem?
Currently there is no preference rule addressing race card cancellations.
How will the change affect any entities or stakeholders?
The change will positively impact trainers and owners negatively impacted by a cancellation.
How will you or your organization be affected by the proposed change?
What are the benefits of the proposed change?
The change insures all owners and trainers are not overly penalized by a race day cancellation.
What are the possible drawbacks of the proposed change?
There are no know drawbacks.
D. Please identify any affected stakeholder groups that expressed support or opposition.
(These stakeholders may include the racetracks, breed registries, owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, or others.)
For those stakeholder groups that have expressed an opinion, please list the points on which they agree or disagree, and the arguments they have expressed.
HRA regulatory and Century have agreed that adding special preference for SBs clarifies the process for cancellations and protects owners and trainers impacted negatively. It also aligns with current TB rules.
Are there any affected stakeholder groups that have not been consulted on this proposal?
No.
Please attach any formal letters of support or opposition by stakeholder groups. Files must be .pdf, .doc, .docx, or .txt format and under 3072k for the system to accept the submission. You can add a maximum of 3 attachments.
E. Attach the rule language you are proposing. Please show new language in a new paragraph below the current wording. If you are proposing that current rule language be eliminated, please indicate the text to be deleted with [delete: sample deleted copy]
480 s Special preferences (1) (2) If a racing program or any portion of a program is cancelled or a *race is declared no contest, the *horses affected by that cancellation or *declaration must receive a special preference. The special preference is good in all categories except *stakes races and is to be considered “best preference”.
F. Do any racing jurisdictions currently have a version of this rule in effect? If yes, please attach copies of those rules.
Yes. This also aligns with the HRA TB rules.
G. Review the Rules Governing Horse Racing in Alberta and identify any other Rules this change would affect and submit proposed amendments to those rules to comply with changes that would be made by this proposal.
No other rules should be impacted.
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