Section 90. Coupling

All horses entered in the same race and owned wholly or partially by the same owner or spouse shall be joined as a mutuel entry and shall constitute a single wagering interest, except as provided for in subdivision 7 of this section. No trainer shall enter more than two horses in an overnight race. The following provisions shall apply to mutuel entries:

1. The racing secretary shall be responsible for coupling entries for wagering purposes;

2. No more than two horses having common ties through ownership, which would result in a mutuel entry and a single wagering interest, may be entered in an overnight race;

3. When two horses having common ties through ownership are entered in an overnight race, preference shall be given to the horse with the earliest preference date or the most stars;

4. Two horses having common ties through ownership shall not start as a mutuel entry in an overnight race to the exclusion of another horse;

5. The racing secretary shall be responsible for assigning horses to the mutuel field when the number of wagering interests exceeds the numbering capacity of the infield tote board;

6. In an overnight race, the racing secretary may uncouple entries having common ties through training; and

7. In any thoroughbred stakes race with added or guaranteed money of $50,000 or more, the racing secretary may uncouple mutuel entries of horses sharing common ties through training or ownership or both.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR662-04-02 § 9, eff. September 26, 1991; amended, Volume 16, Issue 25, eff. August 8, 2000; Volume 18, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 18, eff. May 31, 2007; Volume 25, Issue 19, eff. June 1, 2009; Volume 28, Issue 15, eff. April 16, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.