Claiming Rule Changed

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 13, 2012) – Claimed horses that do not win the races in which they were claimed will be eligible to race within 25 days at the same level after a regulatory amendment approved by the California Horse Racing Board goes into effect July 25. The long-standing requirement for a claimed horse to run for a higher price when raced within 25 days of the claim will only apply to race winners.

The amendment to CHRB Rule 1663 (Entry of Claimed Horse) originally was proposed by the Thoroughbred Owners of California in the belief that forcing new owners to run claimed horses for higher price tags encouraged them to unnecessarily keep those horses in the barn for days or even weeks until their “jail time” ran out after 25 days. The TOC recommended that race winners should continue to be required to run for a price of at least 25 percent higher than the claiming price but race losers should be exempted from the same requirement. The Board agreed. The change could help increase field size and benefit the entire industry.  The change will apply to horses claimed prior to July 25.