Section 71IAC7-1-30. Also eligible list

   (a) Not more than two (2) horses may be drawn as also eligibles for a race and their positions shall be drawn along with the starters in the race. In the event one (1) or more horses are excused by the judges, the also eligible horse or horses shall race and take the post position drawn by the horse that it replaces, except in handicap races. In handicap races, the also eligible horse shall take the place of the horse that it replaces in the event that the handicap is the same. In the event the handicap is different, the also eligible horse shall take the position on the outside of horses with a similar handicap. In races with one (1) trailer, the trailing position shall be the fourth best post position. No horse may be added to a race as an also eligible unless the horse was drawn as such at the time declarations closed. No horse may be barred from a race to which it is otherwise eligible by reason of its preference due to the fact that it has been drawn as an also eligible. A horse moved into the race from the also eligible list can only be withdrawn for good cause by permission of the judges, but the owner or trainer of such a horse shall be notified that the horse is to race and it shall be posted at the racing secretary's office. All horses on the also eligible list and not moved in to race by the time prescribed by the judges on the day before the race shall be released.

  (b) Preference shall be given in all overnight events according to a horse's last previous purse race during the current year. The preference date on a horse that has drawn to race and had been scratched is the date of the race from which he was scratched. Preference dates shall also be determined as follows:

(1) When a horse is racing for the first time in the current year, the date of that horse's first successful qualifying race shall be considered its last race date, and preference applied accordingly; provided however, that where an overnight race has been reopened because it did not fill, all eligible horses declared in to the race prior to the reopening shall receive preference over subsequently declared, irrespective of the actual preference date or being Indiana sired preferred.

(2) All horses granted stalls and eligible must be given the opportunity to compete at the meeting.

(Indiana Horse Racing Commission; 71 IAC 7-1-30; emergency rule filed Feb 10, 1994, 9:20 a.m.: 17 IR 1157; emergency rule filed Feb 13, 1998, 10:00 a.m.: 21 IR 2407; readopted filed Oct 30, 2001, 11:50 a.m.: 25 IR 899; readopted filed Mar 23, 2007, 11:31 a.m.: 20070404-IR-071070030RFA; emergency rule filed Mar 8, 2012, 11:43 a.m.: 20120321-IR-071120117ERA; readopted filed Nov 26, 2013, 11:25 a.m.: 20131225-IR-071130345RFA)