August 28, 2020
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is revising Standardbred Rule 22.01 to enhance the consistency of racing, so that participants and the betting public know where a horse will start from.
Effective immediately, in races with two or more trailers, the driver of each horse in the second tier must follow in designated trailing positions; specifically, the driver of each horse in the second tier must follow the two horses in front of it as detailed in the rule below.
This amendment is consistent with the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) model rules and the Standardbred Canada Rule Harmonization project.
The AGCO is committed to providing consistency for trailing horse positions and, as such, has made this change in response to requests from industry representatives.
New Rule:
22.01 (h) In the event there are two tiers of horses, the withdrawing scratching of a horse that has drawn or earned a position in the front tier shall not affect the position of the horses that have drawn or earned positions in the second tier, except as provided for in handicap claiming races. Whenever a horse is drawn scratched from any tier, horses on the outside move in to fill up the vacancy. When there is only one trailer, it may start from any position in the second tier. When there is more than one trailer, they must start from inside any horse with a higher post position. the inside trailer shall follow either the horse in the #1 or #2 position, the next trailer shall follow either the horse in the #3 or #4 position, the next trailer shall follow either the horse in the #5 or #6 position, the next trailer shall follow either the horse in the #7 or #8 position, the next trailer shall follow either the horse in the #9 or #10 position. In the event that there are more trailers than designated positions on the second tier, the Judges will determine where horses will line up.