Proposed Amended Rule # 7.236
Statement of Authority, Basis And Purpose

The Statutory Authority for the adoption of this amended Rule # 7.236 is Section 12-60-101, Section 12-60-201, Section 12-60-202, Section 12-60-204, Section 12-60-501, and Section 12-60-503, C.R.S.

The Basis and Purpose for permanent adoption of this amended rule in the Colorado Racing Commission Rules is to make the rule more flexible in order to be able to respond to unavoidable fluctuations in the number of available horses during the time of a race meet by relaxing the coupling requirement when necessary to permit a reasonable racing program. 

CURRENT RULE:

7.236 ‑ A trainer or assistant trainer of any horse shall not have any ownership interest in any other horse in the same race unless the horses are coupled as a single wagering interest. If after scratch time the number of separate interests in a race exceed the numerical capacity of the totalisator and/or tote board, once Section 7.232 has been complied with, any further necessary coupling shall be allowed until the coupling creates the maximum numerical capacity of the totalisator and/or tote board.

PROPOSED AMENDED RULE:

7.236 ‑ A trainer or assistant trainer of any horse shall not have any ownership interest in any other horse in the same race unless the horses are coupled as a single wagering interest. If after scratch time the number of separate interests in a race exceed the numerical capacity of the totalisator and/or tote board, once Section 7.232 has been complied with, any further necessary coupling shall be allowed until the coupling creates the maximum numerical capacity of the totalisator and/or tote board.  If the Director determines, in the exercise of his sole discretion, that the pool of horses for any given race meet may be insufficient to maintain a reasonable PARIMUTUEL RACING PROGRAM with coupled entries, OR THAT OTHER CONDITIONS EXIST WHICH WOULD, IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF RACING, MAKE THE UNCOUPLING OF ENTRIES DESIRABLE, then the Director may allow horses which would otherwise be coupled under this rule to be uncoupled.