DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE  
FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS AND RACING DIVISION  
REGULATION NO. 816. STABLING AND TRAINING FACILITIES FOR  
STANDARDBRED HARNESS HORSES  
(By authority conferred on the department of agriculture pursuant to section 7 of 1995 PA  
279 and sections 9 and 184 of 1965 PA 380, MCL 431.307, 16.109, and 16.284.)  
R 285.816.1 Definitions.  
Rule 1. As used in these rules:  
(a) "Association" means a corporation organized under a law of this state and governed  
by an elected board of directors, or an association under 1855 PA 80, MCL 453.231, or  
board functioning under 1929 PA 11, MCL 46.151, and which conducts a fair.  
(b) "Buildings" means the buildings which are primarily used for the stabling of horses  
or other livestock and which are under the management of the fair association or county  
government.  
(c) "Commission" means the commission of agriculture.  
(d) "Department" means the department of agriculture.  
(e) "Director" means the director of agriculture or his or her designee.  
(f) "Grounds" means the land which is primarily used for fair purposes and which is under  
the management of the fair association or county government.  
(g) "Racetrack" means a track used primarily for standardbred harness horse races.  
History: 1979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.2 Allotments; qualifications.  
Rule 2. (1) An association receiving an allotment shall not require persons using the fair  
facilities to be members of an association or organization.  
(2) An association shall conduct a fair for a period of not less than 3 years before  
consideration for financial assistance.  
History: 1979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.3 Allotments; application and approval.  
Rule 3. (1) The president and secretary of an association requesting funds shall file a  
properly completed application, on forms provided by the department, with the director for  
consideration on or before May 1 preceding the state's fiscal year for which an allotment is  
being requested, or 60 days prior to making the association's facilities available for training  
and stabling.  
(2) The department shall give written notice of approval or disapproval of an application  
within 30 days after receiving the application.  
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History: 1979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.4 Stabling facilities.  
Rule 4. (1) Michigan residents shall be given preference over persons from outside  
Michigan for stabling facilities.  
(2) Stalls shall not be less than 80 square feet per horse.  
(3) Water shall be provided to each building used in this program.  
(4) Electrical systems in buildings shall conform to the state electrical code.  
(5) Conveniently located restrooms shall be provided on the grounds for persons renting  
stabling facilities, and the restrooms shall conform to applicable local codes.  
(6) All manure shall be removed from the grounds in compliance with local health codes.  
History: 1979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.5 Training facilities.  
Rule 5. (1) A racetrack on which standardbred harness horses train shall be free of stones,  
rocks, and any other foreign objects. It shall be adequately drained from weather conditions  
and graded to be smooth, well groomed, and compatible for training horses, or an auxiliary  
track shall be made available.  
(2) An association shall have clearly visible indicators of the starting point, quarter miles,  
and finish.  
History: 1979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.6 Final approval.  
Rule 6. After an application has been submitted, the department shall conduct an  
inspection of the total facility in order to determine that the facility meets the standards  
described in R 285.816.4 and R 285.816.5.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 285.816.7 Allotments; uses.  
Rule 7. (1) An association whose application is approved shall be funded based on the  
number of horses that stable at the facility from October 1 to September 30 each year. The  
following shall be allotted:  
(a) over 200 horses $4,000.00 per year  
(b) 176 to 200 horses $3,500.00 per year  
(c) 151 to 175 horses $3,000.00 per year  
(d) 126 to 150 horses $2,500.00 per year  
(e) 101 to 125 horses $2,000.00 per year  
(f) 76 to 100 horses $1,500.00 per year  
(g) 26 to 75 horses $1,000.00 per year  
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(h) 0 to 25 horses any remaining allotment distributed on a prorated basis. A horse that  
stables and trains for any part of the month is considered 1 horse for that month.  
(2) The association shall submit to the department a sworn statement of the total number  
of stalls rented for the period of October 1 to September 30 of the prior year.  
(3) The fair association shall provide any additional information requested by the director  
necessary in processing the association's claim.  
(4) A fair shall keep its facilities available and racetracks in training condition as specified  
in the application.  
(5) A person stabling and training at an approved racetrack, shall pay the rental charges  
for those services at the time and place specified by the association, or may be subject to  
immediate eviction from the grounds.  
(6) Failure by an individual to pay rental charges for stabling and training as specified by  
the association whose facility he or she is using will result in winnings and breeders awards  
being withheld until payment is made in full to the association. The association shall report  
to the department of agriculture by June 1 any outstanding rental amounts 90 days or more  
past due. The department shall notify the racing fairs and presiding judges to withhold  
purse payments from that individual and the department shall withhold breeders payments  
until rental payments are paid in full.  
(7) The association shall keep records pertaining to the rental of its facilities available for  
state auditors for not less than 4 years.  
History: 979 AC; 2008 AACS.  
R 285.816.8 Complaints; appeal.  
Rule 8. (1) Within 24 hours of being in attendance at a track, an individual may file a  
complaint in writing with the association if he or she believes the track is not maintained  
in a safe condition, as required by R 285.816.5.The association shall investigate complaints  
within 48 hours of receipt of the complaint and issue a report of findings to the individual  
filing the complaint not later than 24 hours after the investigation is completed. The report  
of findings shall include notification to the individual filing the compliant that he or she  
can appeal to the department within 10 business days of filing the initial complaint if the  
individual is not satisfied with the association's report of findings.  
(2) The department shall have 7 days after receipt of any appropriately filed appeal to  
investigate the complaint, and the department shall issue a finding of fact and notice of  
action and any recommended actions for the association.  
(3) Any party aggrieved by an action taken by the department under subrule (2) of this  
rule may appeal pursuant to 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201. An administrative law judge shall  
issue a proposal for decision under section 81 of 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.281, and the  
department shall issue a final order.  
History: 2008 AACS.  
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