Rule 3. (1) The presiding judge and clerks shall be licensed by the USTA and
approved by the office of the racing commissioner.
(2) The presiding judge shall enforce all department rules pertaining to harness horse
racing at fairs and any penalties imposed by the department or by reciprocal agreement
with the office of racing commissioner.
(3) The fair and the presiding judge shall approve all associate judges and timers at
each fair race meet to which the presiding judge is assigned.
(4) The department shall allot a sum to each fair for payment of judges and clerks.
History: 1979 AC; 1981 AACS; 1995 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS.
R 285.812.4 Track maintenance; track equipment; head and saddle pad numbers.
Rule 4. (1) A fair that may conduct harness horse races shall maintain its racetrack in
a manner that makes harness horse racing safe. The track shall be adequately drained,
shall be kept in a smooth condition during the races, and shall be sprinkled between
races when necessary. If purses are paid in part by funds allocated under this rule, then
the track condition shall be approved by a representative of the director before any
races are conducted.
(2) An approved starting gate and starter shall be used in
a
harness horse race. The
department shall be reimburse the fee to the fair based on available funds and the
going industry rate for approved mobile starting gates for each harness horse race
program conducted at the fair. The fair shall submit, to the director, within 15 days after
completion of the harness race program or September 30, whichever is sooner,
receipted invoices for the starting gate operations.
(3) A fair shall use adequate photo finish equipment and an experienced
photographer for all harness horse races. The department shall reimburse the fair,
subject to available funding, a fee for approved photo finishing equipment and the
services of an experienced
photographer for each harness horse race program
conducted at the fair. The fair shall submit, to the director, within 15 days after
completion of the harness race program or September 30, whichever is sooner,
receipted invoices for the photo finish operations.
(4) The fair shall provide a harness horse race entry with a head number or a saddle pad,
or both.
History: 1979 AC; 1981 AACS; 1995 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.
R 285.812.5 Race program development and allocation.
Rule 5. (1) The director shall designate annually which standardbred horse races
conducted at fairs and licensed pari-mutuel racetracks shall be eligible for state
purse supplements. To assist the director in designating the races and determining the
number, location, time, conditions, and amount of the state purse supplements for each
race, an advisory committee is established consisting of the following persons:
(a) The president or designee of the Michigan harness horsemen's association.
(b) The president or designee of the Michigan association of fairs and exhibitions.
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