DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  
FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS AND RACING DIVISION  
REGULATION NO. 820. MICHIGAN-BRED PARI-MUTUEL RACES  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of agriculture by section 20 of  
1995 PA 279, MCL 431.320)  
R 285.820.1 Definitions.  
Rule 1. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Commissioner" means the Michigan state racing commissioner.  
(b) "Department" means the Michigan department of agriculture.  
(c) "Director" means the director of the department or his or her designee.  
(d) "Licensed racing association" means an association licensed by the commissioner  
to conduct standardbred horse races in this state.  
(e) "M.H.H.A." means the Michigan harness horsemen's association.  
(f) "Michigan-bred horse" means  
a
horse that  
is  
from  
a registered  
standardbred mare, which is owned exclusively by a resident or residents of this state  
at the time of conception.  
(g) "Michigan-sired standardbred horse" means a standardbred horse that satisfies any  
of the following provisions:  
(i) The first foal per year, with the exception of twins carried to term by the natural  
mother, which is from a Michigan-owned standardbred mare at the time of breeding  
and which is sired by a Michigan-owned or leased stallion, duly registered with the  
fairs, exhibitions and racing division.  
(ii) The first foal per year with the exception of twins carried to term by the natural  
mother, from a mare which was owned exclusively by a resident or residents of this state  
at the time of conception and which was conceived outside this state by means  
of transported semen from a standardbred stallion that was registered with the  
department.  
(iii) The first foal per year, with the exception of twins carried to term by the natural  
mother, from a mare which was owned exclusively or in part by a nonresident of this  
state at the time of conception and which was conceived outside the state of  
Michigan by means of semen transported from a standardbred stallion that was  
registered with the department if, by November 1 of the year in which the foal is  
conceived, the transport fee is paid to the department's agent.  
(h) "Offending horse" means a horse that causes a disruption or an accident in a  
race.  
(i) "Registered stallion" means a stallion that was registered, on forms provided by  
the director, with the department, by January  
1
each year in which the stallion will  
be standing at service in this state from January 1 to July 31 of the calendar year in  
which it is registered. A newly acquired stallion, which has not been in this state  
for breeding purposes before January 1 of a given year and which has not serviced  
any mares after December 31 of the preceding year shall be  
registered  
with the  
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department before servicing any mares if its foals are to  
be eligible for  
Michigan tax-supported races. Transportation of semen from a registered stallion to a  
location outside this state does not affect the eligibility of a Michigan-sired  
standardbred foal for purses provided for in this rule.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.1a Eligibility  
Rule 1a. A horse shall be a Michigan-bred or a Michigan-sired standardbred  
horse and meet the established conditions of the race, in order to be eligible to race  
in any Michigan-bred pari-mutuel race, which is supplemented with state funds.  
History: 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.2 Michigan-bred foals eligible for nomination to Michigan-bred races;  
racing divisions.  
Rule 2. (1) The first Michigan-bred foals eligible to be nominated for these  
Michigan-bred pari-mutuel races shall be Michigan-bred foals born in the official  
1975 United States trotting association foaling year.  
(2) In 1979 and thereafter, the foals in subrule (1) of this rule shall be raced as  
Michigan-bred 4-year-olds as follows:  
(a) Michigan-bred 4-year-old horse, gelding trot.  
(b) Michigan-bred 4-year-old mare trot.  
(c) Michigan-bred 4-year-old horse, gelding pace.  
(d) Michigan-bred 4-year-old mare pace.  
History: 1979 AC; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.3 Fees and nominations.  
Rule 3. (1) The M.H.H.A. shall be the holding agent for all fees collected.  
(2) The host licensed racing association shall disburse purse money pertaining  
to the Michigan-bred pari-mutuel races.  
(3) To assist the director to determine the fees and conditions of the races to be run,  
an advisory panel is established and shall consist of the following 6 persons:  
(a) The president, or his or her designee, of the Michigan harness horsemen's  
association.  
(b) The president, or his or her designee, of the Michigan standardbred horse  
breeders association.  
(c) The Michigan racing commissioner, or his or her designee.  
(d) The president, or his or her designee, of the northern fairs and racing  
association.  
(e) A representative of the pari-mutuel harness race meet licensees.  
(f) A member of the department who is designated by the director shall act as chair  
of the committee.  
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History: 1979 AC; 1995 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.4 Application and designation of host tracks.  
Rule 4 (1) A licensed racing association requesting state funds  
for payment of  
Michigan-bred pari-mutuel race purses shall submit a properly completed application to  
the racing commissioner.  
(2) The racing commissioner shall designate annually at which pari-mutuel track the  
pace and trot shall be held.  
(3) If because of unfavorable weather or other unavoidable circumstances the  
Michigan-bred pari-mutuel races are postponed, then the races may be rescheduled at  
the discretion of the director of agriculture or the racing commissioner.  
History: 1979 AC; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.5 Elimination plans for Michigan-bred pari-mutuel races.  
Rule 5. Elimination heats shall be raced pursuant to the United States trotting  
association rules unless published in the conditions of the race and approved by the  
director.  
History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 2002 AACS.  
R 285.820.6 Purse distribution.  
Rule 6. (1) Each purse in the Michigan-bred pari-mutuel races that have 5 or more  
starters shall be divided as follows: 50%-25%-12%-8%-5%. If there are fewer than 5  
starters, then all uncontested money shall be paid to the winner. If there is a premium  
or premiums for which a horse has started, but was unable to finish due to an accident,  
all unoffending horses that did not finish will share equally in the premiums. However,  
if there are fewer unoffending horses failing to finish than there are premiums for  
which horses have started but have not finished, then the number of premiums in  
excess of the number of unoffending horses not finishing shall go to the winner.  
History: 1979 AC; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.820.7 Ineligibility of person or entity to participate in future Michigan-bred  
pari-mutuel race programs.  
Rule 7. A person or entity wilfully falsifying any documents required by these rules or  
wilfully accepting and retaining any purse monies contrary to these rules shall be  
ineligible to participate in any future Michigan-bred pari-mutuel race programs under  
the provisions of these  
rules.  
History: 1979 AC.  
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