At the most recent Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission meeting, several rule changes were officially adopted and will be implemented by the APHRC for the upcoming 2021 season, effective immediately.

The APHRC held a number of small focus groups with industry participants this past winter and would like to thank everyone who took the time to review the rule change proposals along with offering their feedback.

All participants should familiarize themselves with these rule changes along with the policy changes. Participants can review these changes here in PDF format or as published below.

1. R 367. 1.D Ban on Race Day Medication. No administration of medications, drugs and substances to any horse entered to race starting 24 hours prior to the post time of the first race of the day they are scheduled to race. This includes Qualifying Races. The only permissible substance shall be
furosemide when properly enrolled in the (E.I.P.H.) Program.

2. R 195.B Electronic entries must be taken by race offices starting April 1st 2022 or the race office must record entries taken.

3. R 387. Search and Seizure. Reference must also be made to Rule 386

a) First violation shall be $500 and a 15 day full suspension
b) Second violation within a 2 year period the penalty shall be $1,000 and a 30 day full suspension
c) On the day of the search and seizure is conducted, horses trained by the individual shall be scratched.
d) No stays shall be granted on search and seizure violations
e) All other horses under the care and control of the person responsible for the horse, shall not be eligible for declaration or entry purposes for a period of seven (7) calendar days and an approved trainer change is required.

4. R 436. 7. D All other horses under the care and control of the person responsible for the horse, shall not be eligible for declaration or entry purposes for a period of seven (7) calendar days and an approved trainer change is required.

5. R 413. 8 For purses of $5,000 or greater urging violations shall be double the monetary amount of the current penalty matrix and one additional day shall be added.

6. R 369 2. C. For positive tests and a track is closing, a minimum of 75% of the penalty must be served when a racetrack’s meet is operating.

7. R 413.2 . A hearing with the Judges must be requested within 48 hours of the race in question, otherwise, Judge’s decision is final.

8. R 438.19. Once a horse has reported for Lasix, the horse shall remain on the grounds of the licensed facility. If horse leaves the grounds after receiving Lasix and returns, the horse shall be scratched, and the trainer shall receive a fine of $100.

9. R 413.3. A licensee who fails to show for a Judges hearing, may be subject to a $50 fine, unless cancelled prior to 24 hours of the hearing.

10. R 87.6. For all new trainer applications, the APHRC will be requiring each to go a rated mile as part of the application process. This must be completed prior to entering horses.

11. R 154. Any horse that is qualified to race with or without hopples will be permitted to be declared to a race with or without hopples as an equipment change without having to qualify with the equipment change.

12. R 312.4 (f) The urging tool must be visible at all times and must be above the shaft of the
sulky.

13. R 156. Any race where a horse that makes a break in stride on anything but a fast track will be considered a clean line. Any horse charted with 3 consecutive breaks must qualify regardless of
track condition. ****One year trial

Policy Changes

1. A horse losing a shoe before or during a race shall be charted with broken equipment. Must be verified by video evidence, starter or paddock judge immediately after a race.

2. Policy of granting variances to penalties to allow for 2 year olds only to be trained at a licensed facility during the off season will no longer be granted. No further variances will be approved. Effective immediately.

(APHRC)