AGCO Announces Standardbred Rule Changes

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued updates to Standardbred rules regarding extended breaks in stride and qualifying times.

The AGCO "regularly reviews the Rules of Racing to determine whether any changes are needed to meet the needs of a constantly evolving industry," the agency noted in a release dated Thursday, July 17. "After a recent review and feedback from stakeholders, two Standardbred rules are being updated to support industry sustainability and reduce red tape."

• Removing disqualification for extended breaks – Eliminating the automatic requirement that a horse be placed last if it has an extended break simplifies the process and reduces time required to finalize race results, as well as enhancing fairness and integrity of racing. (SB. 22.27.01)  

Effective Date for 22.27.01: July 18, 2025  

• Implementing equal qualifying times – Easing entry requirements into added money events and implementing a single set of qualifying times creates more racing opportunities for more horses, benefiting both the industry as well as the betting public. (SB. 11.02.01) 

Effective Date for 11.02.01: October 1, 2025 

Please see the changes to the Standardbred Rules of Racing below.  

What is changing?

Revisions to rule 11.02.01 are intended to:

• Respond to industry feedback by establishing a unified set of qualifying times for all races  
• Expand racing opportunities by slightly reducing entry requirements  
• Increase the number of eligible horses, thereby increasing the field size and wagering potential  

Rule 22.27.01 is the original rule and will remain in place. The removal of rule 22.27.02 is intended to:

• Address industry requests to return to the previous breaking rule.  
• Improve officiating process efficiency by reducing the time required to finalize race results   
• Align the Rules of Racing with those of other major North American racetracks, improving consistency for the international wagering community  

Questions 

For any questions regarding the rule changes, please see the AGCO's Race Day Contact List.

Changes to the Standardbred Rules of Racing

Rule change in Chapter 11: Horses Permitted to Race of the Standardbred Rules of Racing stating:

11.02.01     If a horse meets the conditions of Rule 11.01.01 and 11.01.02 it will be considered qualified and eligible to be declared to added money event races provided that one of its last three charted lines is a clean line in a purse, qualifying or schooling race, not more than sixty (60) clear days before the closing of declarations and its individual time in that clean charted line meets the qualifying standard in effect at the racetrack hosting the added money event, in accordance with Rule 12.02.01, the following standards for age and the size of the track where it raced or qualified after the Judges have given appropriate allowances for track conditions.

Where an added money event is to be conducted for three-year-olds during the period December 1 through April 30, the qualifying times in effect at the track will apply.

FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UP:
Qualifying times in effect at a track where an added money event is conducted shall apply to the following:

1. Events for four-year-olds and up; and
2. Events where two and/or three-year-olds are eligible to compete against horses four years old and up.

Rule 22.27.02 will be deleted, while 22.27.01 in Chapter 22: Racing Rules of the Standardbred Rules of Racing will continue to apply:

22.27.01   When a horse breaks from its gait in a race the driver shall:

1. Take the horse to the inside or outside of other horses where clearance exists;
2. Properly attempt to pull the horse to its gait; and
3. Continuously lose ground while on the break.

If there has been no violation of (a), (b) or (c) above, the horse shall not be set back unless a contending horse on its gait is lapped on the hind quarter of the breaking horse at the finish, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, if interference caused by another driver(s) or horse(s) has caused the horse to be on a break at the finish, the Judges may, in their discretion, determine not to set the horse back even if a contending horse on its gait is lapped on the hind quarter of the breaking horse at the finish. The Judges may set any horse back one or more places if, in their judgment, any of the above violations have been committed, and the driver may be subject to a monetary penalty or suspension or both.

22.27.02   If a horse is not on its proper gait, in a race, for 25 consecutive strides or more (extended break) after the horse’s nose has crossed the start line, that horse shall be placed last.  However, the Judges may, in their discretion, determine not to set the horse back if interference caused by another driver(s) or horse(s) has caused the horse to be on a break for 25 consecutive strides or more.

(AGCO)