MRC adopts expanded 'void claim' rule

The Maryland Racing Commission has approved an update that expands the state’s “void claim” regulation.

The MRC at its Dec. 2 meeting approved the measure with emergency status, which is designed to speed up the adoption process. MRC Executive Director Mike Hopkins said it is possible the regulation could be in place in January, but it depends upon the schedule of the state Legislative Review Committee.

The current regulation states that “a claim is voidable at the sole direction of the new owner, for a period of one hour after a race is made official, for any horse that is vanned off the track after the race at the discretion of the State Veterinarian.” The updated language adds that a claim can be voided, for a period of one hour after a race is made official, if a horse “is sent to the detention barn and observed to be lame by the State Veterinarian.”