Section 1312.190  Elimination Plans

a)         Whenever elimination heats are required, or specified in the published conditions such race shall be raced in the following manner unless conducted under another section of this rule. The field shall be divided by lot and the first division shall race a qualifying dash for 30% of the purse, the second division shall race a quarter dash for 30% of the purse and the horses so qualified shall race in the main event for 40% of the purse. The winner of the main event shall be the race winner.

b)         In the event there are more horses declared to start than can be accommodated by the two elimination dashes, then there will be added enough elimination dashes to take care of the excess. The per cent of the purse raced for each elimination dash will be determined by dividing the number of elimination dashes into 60. The main event will race for 40% of the purse.

c)         Unless the conditions provide otherwise, if there are two elimination dashes, the first four finishers in each dash qualify for the final; if three or more elimination dashes, not more than three horses will qualify for the final from each qualifying dash.

d)

1)         The judges shall draw the positions in which the horses are to start in the main event, i.e., they shall draw positions to determine which of the two dash winners shall have the pole, and which the second position; which of the two horses that have been second shall start in third position; and which in fourth, etc. All elimination dashes and the concluding heat must be programmed to be raced upon the same day or night, unless special provisions for earlier elimination dashes are set forth in the conditions.

2)         In the event there are three separate heat or dash winners and they alone come back in order to determine the race winner according to the conditions, they will take post positions according to the order of their finish in the previous heat or dash.

e)         In any race where the number of horses declared in to start exceeds 12 on a half-mile track or 16 on a mile track, unless other numbers are specified in the conditions, the race, at the option of the track conducting the same, stated before positions are drawn, may be divided by lot and raced in two divisions with all heat winners from both divisions competing in a final heat to determine the race winner. Each division shall race two heats for 20% of the purse each heat. The remaining 20% of the purse shall go to the winner of the final heat.

f)         Whenever elimination heats are required or specified in the published conditions of a stake or futurity, such race may be raced on the three heat plan, irrespective of any provisions in the conditions to the contrary, unless such published conditions provide otherwise. That is, the field shall be divided by lot and the first division shall race for 30% of the purse, the second division shall race for 30%, and the horses qualifying in the first and second divisions shall race the third heat for 30% of the purse. If, after the third heat, no horse has won two heats, a fourth heat shall be raced by only the heat winners. The race winner shall receive the remaining 10% of the purse. The number of horses qualifying to return after each elimination heat will be the same as set out in this rule.