Rules on Claiming Races in Horse Racing

Horse owners or their authorized agents must fill out a declaration form specifying the horse's name, race number, claiming price, and other required details.
The horse's foal or registration certificate must be attached to the declaration form.
Declaration must be signed by the owner or authorized agent.

Only registered horsemen in good standing or their registered authorized agents may claim horses.
Claimants must deposit the full claiming price plus 5% sales tax and 3% service charge in cash or immediately cashable bank drafts (personal checks are not acceptable) before the claimed race.

Claimants fill out a claim form with the date, horse's name, and race number.
The claim form is time-stamped and deposited into a locked claim box 30 minutes before the race's post time.
In the event of multiple claims on the same horse, ownership is decided by drawing lots under steward supervision.
Upon a successful claim, ownership transfers immediately, alive or dead, along with the foal or registration certificate.

All purse money won by the claimed horse belongs to the original owner.
The claiming price is also transferred to the original owner’s account.
The claimed horse becomes the property of the claimant from the moment it leaves the saddling paddock to race.

Owners refusing to surrender a claimed horse or refuse responsibility for a claimed horse (alive, dead, or crippled) will have their licenses revoked and be barred from future racing.
Owners may not claim their own horses or use collusion to protect their horses from claims.
One owner may claim only one horse per race.

Non-licensed individuals must file intentions to become horse owners and obtain licensing clearance before claiming horses.
They must state their licensed trainer.

The racing club charges a 3% service fee on the claiming price for each successful claim, payable by the claimant.
Standard handicap weight is 56 kg, with allowances: two-year-olds at 54 kg and females allowed 2 kg less.

Claims on horses withdrawn or scratched before leaving the saddling paddock are void.
Claimed horses must be delivered immediately to the claimant.
Purse and claiming monies are held in abeyance pending drug test results.
Positive cases result in penalties and void claims unless the claimant waives penalties.

A horse declared in a claiming race is valid unless a written protest is filed with the Board of Stewards before the first race of the day.
False declarations can result in penalties, and the horse will be scratched.

If a horse wins or places in a claiming race, its purse is based on the highest bracket of horses competing in that race.

The registered owner or authorized agent fills out the Claiming Declaration Form privately with the club handicapper.
The form must include: horse’s name, age, sex, sire, dam, race number, claiming price, race weight, jockey name, signature, and attached foal or registration certificate.
The form is submitted to the club handicapper and held until the post position drawing.

Obtain a claim form from the club handicapper.
Deposit full claiming price plus applicable taxes and service charges with the club cashier at least three hours before post time.
Fill out and sign the claim form, seal it in an envelope labeled with race details.
Time stamp the envelope and place it in the locked claim box.
After the race, the claim box is opened; a successful claim is announced by the track announcer.
The claimed horse is delivered to the new owner at the saddling paddock.
Claim forms and Deed of Sale are signed by all parties; the claiming money is remitted only after the deed is signed.
Taxes collected are remitted to the government by the racing club.

This resolution took effect immediately upon adoption on December 10, 1999.