DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  
FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS AND RACING DIVISION  
REGULATION NO. 812. STATE PURSE SUPPLEMENTS FOR HARNESS  
HORSE RACING AT FAIRS AND PARI-MUTUEL TRACKS  
(By authority conferred on the director of the department of agriculture by sections 17, 18,  
19, and 20 of 1995 PA 279, MCL 431.317 TO 431.320)  
R 285.812.1 Definitions.  
Rule 1. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Department" means the Michigan department of agriculture.  
(b) "Director" means the director of the department or his or her designee.  
(c) "Domicile" means the fixed, permanent, and principal home to which a person intends  
to return.  
(d) "Fair" means a county, district, community, or 4-H fair, and any other state fair that  
has been approved by the director to conduct harness horse races during the fair.  
(e) "Fairs, exhibitions and racing division" means the fairs, exhibition and racing division  
of the department.  
(f) "Licensed pari-mutuel track" means a facility that is owned by a person who is licensed  
by the office of racing commissioner to conduct standardbred races in Michigan.  
(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 is owned exclusively by a resident or residents of this state at  
the time of conception and which is conceived out of this state by means of transported  
semen from a standardbred stallion that is 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 is owned exclusively or in part by a nonresident of this state at  
the time of conception and which is conceived out of this state by means of transported  
semen from a standardbred stallion registered with the department, if by November 1 of  
the year the foal is conceived, the transport fee is paid to the department's agent.  
(h) "Owner" means a person or persons who are domiciled in this state and who have been  
recorded with the United States trotting association register as being horse owners.  
(i) "Person" means an individual, partnership, association, or corporation.  
(j) "Purse offered" means the purse requested by the fair association or licensed pari-  
mutuel track at the time of application to the department for approval of purse funds.  
(k) "Race program" means a series of not less than 8 standardbred horse races held at a  
county fair within a specified block of time.  
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(l) "Registered stallion" means a stallion that was registered, on the 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 has not serviced any mares after December 31 of the  
preceding year, is registered with the department  
before servicing 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.  
(m) "Transport fee" means a fee paid for a foal from a mare which is owned exclusively  
or in part by a nonresident of this state at the time of conception and which is conceived  
outside of this state by means of transported semen from a standardbred stallion that is  
registered  
with the department.  
(n) "U.S.T.A." means the United States trotting association.  
History: 1979 AC; 1981 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.1a Determination of domicile.  
Rule 1a. The following factors shall be considered in the determination of domicile:  
(a) Voting registration or alien registration showing a Michigan address.  
(b) Federal income tax return showing a Michigan address.  
(c) State income tax return showing a Michigan address.  
History: 1981 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.2 Eligibility to receive state purse supplement.  
Rule 2. To be eligible to receive state purse supplements for standardbred horse races that  
a fair or pari-mutuel track offers, the fair or pari-mutuel track shall conduct races that are  
designated by the director for state purse supplements under R 285.812.5. A fair shall also  
file its proposed annual harness horseracing program with the department by February 1 of  
each year. The director shall approve the plan. A fair or pari-mutuel racetrack that receives  
state purse supplements under this rule shall file reports with the department as required by  
the director.  
History: 1979 AC; 1998 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.3 Presiding judges at fairs.  
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.  
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(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.  
(c) The president or designee of the Michigan standardbred breeders association.  
(d) The president or designee of the northern Michigan fair and racing association.  
(e) The designated representative of the office of racing commissioner.  
(f) A pari-mutuel racetrack representative designated by the racing commissioner.  
(g) A representative of the department who shall chair the committee.  
(h) Other persons deemed appropriate by the director.  
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(2) The advisory committee shall develop and recommend to the director an overall  
standardbred racing program each year. The overall program shall include the proposed  
number, location, time, conditions, and amount of state purse supplements to allocate for  
program races. The standardbred racing program shall be designed to promote positive  
growth and development of the state's standardbred horse racing and breeding industry.  
(3) The director shall make the allocation of funds based on his or her determination of  
what best promotes the positive growth and development of the horse racing and breeding  
industry in the state of Michigan.  
History: 1979 AC; 1981 AACS; 1983 AACS; 1994 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.5a Rescinded.  
History: 1994 AACS; 1998-2000 AACS.  
Editor's note: Pursuant to section 56 of Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, as amended, being S24.256  
of the Michigan Compiled Laws, R 285.812.5a is rescinded to correct an obvious error.  
R 285.812.6 Allocations for purse supplements.  
Rule 6. (1) Before a designated race, the director shall make allocations to a fair or  
licensed pari-mutuel track for purses for harness horse races as follows:  
(a) The allocation shall be not more than 75% of the purse offered by a fair or licensed  
pari-mutuel track.  
(b) The allocation for a purse on an overnight race hall not exceed the lowest purse offered  
for overnight races at any licensed race meeting in this state during the previous year or be  
more than $1,000.00.  
(c) The allocation for a purse on an early closing 2- and 3-year-old filly and colt race shall  
not be more than $10,000.00.  
(d) The allocation for futurities for 2- and 3-year-old horses shall be not more than 75%  
of the purse offered and shall not be more than $18,750.00 for each race. The allocation  
for the Charles Coon memorial 4-year-old horse futurity shall not be more than $37,500.00  
for each race.  
(e) All fair racing shall be conducted under the 2001 regulations of the United States  
trotting association, which are adopted by reference in these rules, if the regulations are not  
in conflict with department rules. Copies of the United States trotting association rules may  
be obtained from the United States Trotting Association, 750 Michigan Avenue,  
Columbus, OH 43215-1191, at no cost as of the time of adoption of these rules, or from  
the Michigan Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909, at no cost  
as of the time of adoption of these rules.  
(f) All pari-mutuel racing conducted under these rules shall be conducted under the rules  
or orders of the office of the racing commissioner.  
(2) Any harness horse owned outside of this state that is not a Michigan-sired  
standardbred horse is ineligible to participate in the allocation of state funds paid at any  
harness horse race contest, unless the director gives written permission.  
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(3) A Michigan-sired standardbred horse which is owned exclusively by a resident or  
residents of this state shall not be barred from a fair harness horse race if the Michigan-  
sired standardbred horse conforms to the age, sex, and earnings stipulated in the conditions  
of the race.  
(4) If a purse for an early closing colt stake or futurity race is supplemented by state funds,  
then the race shall be restricted to horses sired by standardbred stallions registered with the  
state of Michigan.  
(5) A stallion shall be registered, on forms provided by the department, with the director  
by January 1 of each year that the stallion will be standing at service in this state. A newly  
acquired stallion that is purchased after January 1 of the breeding year shall be registered  
with the director before serving a mare.  
(6) A fair may race any of the races specified in this rule as 1 heat.  
(7) The Michigan harness horsemen's association is designated and shall serve as the  
department's agent for purposes of administering approved procedures governing  
nominations and sustaining functions for all colt stakes and may be designated the  
collecting and holding agent for all fees by the sponsors of the colt stakes. While acting as  
the department's agent under this rule, the Michigan harness horsemen's association shall  
not require that persons be members of the Michigan harness horsemen's association as a  
condition of nominating and participating in colt stake races designated by the director to  
be eligible to receive state purse supplements. The Michigan harness horsemen's  
association may charge a reasonable service fee to nonmembers to perform this function.  
If the Michigan harness horsemen's association is unable or unwilling to serve as the  
department's agent under this rule, then the director may designate and appoint another  
agent of his or her choice. Final decisions on application of procedures shall be made by  
the director.  
History: 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.6a Rescinded.  
History: 1998-2000 AACS.  
R 285.812.7 Split races.  
Rule 7. A fair that conducts a split race required under United States trotting association  
rules shall not receive an allocation in addition to the amounts described in R 285.812.6.  
History:1979 AC; 1995 AACS; 1998 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.7a Driving in race under influence of alcohol prohibited; breath analyzer  
test.  
Rule 7a. (1) If a purse is paid in part or in full by state funds, then a driver shall not drive  
in a fair harness race while under the influence of alcohol. A driver shall submit to a breath  
analyzer test when directed by a representative of the director. A driver is in violation of  
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these rules if test results show a reading of 0.05% or more of alcohol in the blood and shall  
not be permitted to drive for at least 12 hours.  
(2) If a purse is to be paid in part or full by state funds, then the horse shall be free of any  
substances, as determined by the office of racing commissioner, that could enhance the  
performance of the horse during the race. The owner or driver shall submit the horse for  
urine, blood, saliva, or other tests when directed by a representative of the director.  
(3) If a horse dies while on grounds for a fair horseracing program, then the horse may  
not be removed until a blood sample is drawn. If an authorized department representative  
is not present, then the judge shall authorize the veterinarian services for draw on behalf of  
the department.  
(4) The judge and fair management shall acknowledge and enforce any sanctions made  
by the department or the office of racing commissioner against a driver, owner, or trainer.  
Any individual sanctioned from racing this state shall not be allowed in the paddock area,  
racetrack, or any other area on the fairgrounds deemed to be part of the racing program.  
History: 1979 AC; 1998 AACS; 2002 AACS; 2004 AACS.  
R 285.812.8 Hearings.  
Rule 8. If a provision of these rules or any other rules or state law related to a harness race  
program is violated, then the director shall notify the horse's owner of the violation and  
shall hold a hearing within 14 days from the date that the violation is reported to the  
director. The owner or his or her representative may appear and be heard. From testimony  
taken, the director shall render a decision on the eligibility of the owner, his or her  
representative, and the horse, or any of them, to participate in state-funded races or in any  
future state, county, district, or community fair harness horse race.  
History: 1979 AC; 1998-2000 AACS.  
R 285.812.9 Final reports; preservation of records.  
Rule 9. (1) Within 15 days after completion of the harness race program or September  
30, whichever is sooner, an association shall submit to the director originals of the judges'  
sheets signed by the presiding judge, a sworn statement on forms provided by the director,  
and a copy of the printed race program indicating the order of finish of the horses.  
(2) The association shall supply the director with any additional information required in  
the auditing of the report.  
(3) Association records pertaining to the payment of purses shall be kept for the state  
auditors for not less than 4 years.  
History: 1998-2000 AACS.  
R 285.812.10 Rescission.  
Rule 10. Regulation No. 801, as amended, and Regulation No. 806 of the department of  
agriculture, being R 285.801, R 285.806.1, and R 285.806.2 of the Michigan  
Page 6  
Administrative Code, and appearing on pages 3141 to 3143 of the 1964-65 Annual  
Supplements to the Code, are rescinded.  
History: 1979 AC.  
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