Virginia Law

The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for the administration of the Virginia Breeders Fund by the Virginia Racing Commission as provided for in § 59.1-372 of the Code of Virginia.

A. Certification. The commission or its designee shall certify that a racehorse is Virginia bred for eligibility for entry into races restricted to Virginia-bred horses, and to qualify its owner, the stallion owner, if applicable, and breeder for awards.

B. Determination of eligibility. The final determination of all questions, disputes or protests relating to the registration, eligibility for certification or breeding of a Virginia-bred horse and the final determination of eligibility of any horse to enter a race restricted to Virginia-bred horses shall rest solely with the commission.

C. Documentation. In making its determination, the commission or its designee, in its discretion, may require the submission of any certificate of foal registration, eligibility paper or any other registration document, affidavits or other substantive proof to support or deny any claim concerning registration of a horse as Virginia bred.

D. False statements. Any person who submits false or misleading information to a breed registry, to the commission or its designee, or to any racing official may be fined, have his permit suspended or revoked, be denied participation in the Virginia Breeders Fund for a period of time deemed appropriate by the commission, or any or all of the foregoing.

E. Forfeiture of awards and purse moneys. Any person who is denied participation in the Virginia Breeders Fund under the provisions of this chapter shall forfeit and restore to the fund any awards and purse moneys received based upon the submission of false or misleading information. Until the awards and purse moneys are restored, the commission may suspend the person's permit to participate in horse racing at licensed facilities.

F. Recognized registries. The commission shall recognize certificates of registration from the following breed registries:

1. Thoroughbred: The Jockey Club;

2. Standardbred: The United States Trotting Association;

3. Quarter Horse: The American Quarter Horse Association; and

4. Arabian horse: The Arabian Horse Registry of America.

G. Payment of awards. All awards for owners, stallion owners and breeders shall be distributed from the Virginia Breeders Fund in a manner prescribed by the commission. The following provisions shall apply to payment of owner, stallion owner and breeder awards:

1. Determination of individual distributions to a stallion owner shall be in the same ratio as the amount of first-place purse money won by the Virginia-bred horse at the race meeting, which qualifies the stallion owner for an award, to the total amount of first-place purse money won by all Virginia-bred horses that qualify stallion owners for awards at the race meeting;

2. Determination of individual distributions to a breeder shall be in the same ratio as the amount of first-place purse money won by the Virginia-bred horse at the race meeting, which qualifies the breeder for an award, to the total amount of first-place purse money won by all Virginia-bred horses at the race meeting;

3. Determination of individual distributions to an owner shall be in the same ratio as the amount of nonsupplemented first-place purse money won by the Virginia-bred horse at the race meeting that qualifies the owner for an award to the total amount of nonsupplemented first-place purse money won by all Virginia-bred horses at the race meeting;

4. To become eligible for an owner, a stallion owner or a breeder award from the Virginia Breeders Fund, the owner, stallion owner or breeder must be certified by the commission or its designee prior to receiving any award, unless his racehorse, stallion or foal has been previously registered with the commission or its designee;

5. A stallion owner or breeder need only be certified once per racehorse; and

6. Any unclaimed awards from the Virginia Breeders Fund shall be remitted to the fund.

H. Distribution by breeds. The funds generated by the breed of horse through pari-mutuel wagering at a race meeting shall be distributed to that breed of horse through owner awards, stallion owner awards, breeder awards, purses and purse supplements.

I. Reimbursement of funds. The source of funding is 1.0% of all pari-mutuel pools, which shall be paid to the commission within five days of the date that the funds were generated. Purse moneys shall be paid from the horsemen's account when approval is granted by the stewards. The commission shall reimburse the horsemen's account to the extent that funds are available from the Virginia Breeders Fund.

J. Restrictions. In disbursing the Virginia Breeders Fund, the following restrictions shall apply:

1. Supplements to purses from the Virginia Breeders Fund shall not be considered in determining owner awards;

2. The amount of the purses for races restricted to Virginia-bred horses or any adjustments must be fair, equitable and appropriate to the quality of the horses competing for those purses;

3. Purses from the Virginia Breeders Fund shall be considered for stallion owner and breeder awards;

4. Funds allocated for purses shall be credited to the owner's account by the horsemen's bookkeeper in accordance with procedures established elsewhere in this chapter; and

5. Underpayment of moneys generated by each breed shall be remitted to the Virginia Breeders Fund.

K. Reservation of funds. The commission may set aside funds for distribution in future years if the commission, in its discretion, determines that there is an insufficient supply of Virginia-bred horses of a certain breed to warrant a distribution. In this event, the funds shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account for future distribution of awards and purse supplements to the breed that generated the funds so set aside.

L. Assignment of awards. Awards distributable to breeders and stallion owners are only assignable pursuant to a court order.

M. Advisory committee. To assist it in establishing this awards and incentive program to foster the industry of breeding racehorses in Virginia, the commission shall appoint an advisory committee composed of two members from each of the registered breed associations representing each breed of horse participating in the fund program, one member representing the owners and operators of racetracks and one member representing all the meets sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association.

The commission, in its discretion, may establish and appoint the members of subcommittees of the advisory committee for each breed of horse participating in the fund program. Each subcommittee shall be composed of one commissioner, the executive secretary of the commission, two advisory committee members, a member representing an owner or operator of a horse racing facility, and an at-large member associated with the breed of horse participating in the fund program. All appointments shall be approved by the commission.