Section R. 431.4170 - Declaration to start; drawingRule 4170.
(1) Unless otherwise specified in the conditions, the declaration time is at the discretion of the stewards.(2) A horse shall not be permitted to enter in more than 1 race on any 1 racing day. Races decided by more than 1 heat are considered a single race.(3) To avoid confusion and misunderstanding, the time when declarations close is considered to be local time at the track where the race is being held.(4) The association shall provide a locked box with an aperture through which declarations may be deposited. The entry box shall be in the charge of the stewards. Just before opening the box at meetings where futurities, stakes, early closing races, or late closing races are on the program, the steward present shall check with the racing secretary to ascertain if any declarations made by mail, or otherwise are in the race office and not deposited in the entry box, and the steward shall see that they are declared and drawn in the proper race.(5) The entry box shall be opened at the advertised time by the steward and, if present, an official representative of the horsemen's organization. An owner or authorized agent for a horse with a declaration in the entry box shall not be denied the privilege of being present.(6) Under the supervision of the steward, the entry box shall be unlocked, declarations found therein shall be sorted and listed, the eligibility verified, preference ascertained, starters selected, and post positions drawn. If it is necessary to reopen any race, a public announcement shall be made at least twice and the box reopened. A daily record shall be kept in the stewards' book showing the name of the steward who performed the functions specified in this subrule.(7) In races with a duration of more than 1 dash or heat, the stewards may draw post positions from the stand for succeeding dashes or heats.(8) Declarations made by any means established by the association, including telephone, electronic, or on paper in the entry box, and which are actually received and for which evidence thereof is deposited in the box before the time specified to declare in shall be drawn in the same manner as other declarations. The drawings are final. Mail, telephone, or electronic declarations shall state all of the following information:(a) The name and address of the owner or lessee.(b) The name, color, sex, sire, and dam of the horse.(c) The name of the driver and his or her colors.(d) The date and place of the last start.(e) A current summary, including the number of starts, firsts, seconds, thirds, earnings, and the best winning time for the current year.(f) The race or races in which the horse is to be entered.(9) When an association requires a horse to be declared at a stated time, failure to declare as required is considered a withdrawal from the race.(10) After declaration to start has been made, a horse shall not be withdrawn, except by permission of the stewards. Persons violating this subrule are subject to disciplinary action.(11) If a person making the declaration fails to honor it and there is no opportunity for a hearing by the stewards, the matter shall be referred to the executive director.(12) Drawings are final unless there is conclusive evidence that a horse properly declared was omitted from the race through the error of an association or its agent or employee, in which event the horse shall be added to the race and shall take the place of an ineligible horse, considering preference, if the error is discovered before either scratch time or the printing of the program, whichever is sooner. In claiming handicap races, a horse moving into the race must be placed on the outside of the horses of that base claiming price. However, in the case of early closers of more than $10,000.00, a stake, a handicap, and futurity races, the race shall be redrawn.(13) When drawing post positions for handicapped races on a ½ mile race course, 12-3-9 are considered inside post positions.Mich. Admin. Code R. 431.4170
1985 AACS; 2021 MR 6, Eff. 3/26/2021