London, ON — Management at The Raceway at Western Fair District and Flamboro Downs, in consultation with the AGCO and Central Ontario Standardbred Association, wishes to advise horse people of a new rule that will be implemented as part of their respective Track Rules effective Saturday (Dec. 14). This rule will be known as the “Outside Post Rule.”

The new rule specifies that, “Any horse that is scratched from the outside post position at either The Raceway at Western Fair District or Flamboro Downs will be assigned the outside post position in its next start within 15 days of the scratched date.”

For clarity; If a horse is entered at The Raceway at Western Fair and is drawn into post position seven and scratches, that horse will be assigned post position seven for its next start within 15 days at The Raceway at Western Fair. Should that scratched horse enter at Flamboro Downs within the 15-day period, that horse will be assigned post position eight. The opposite would apply should the original scratch take place at Flamboro Downs.

A) The Rule Applies TO:

I. All Scratches – Example: Lame, Sick, Transportation, Weather

B) The Rule Does NOT Apply if:

II. The horse participates in an added money event or racing handicap from the Racing Secretary.
III. The horse is scratched from the outside post and changes ownership.
IV. The horse is present at the racetrack as is a late scratch (sick/lame).
V. The racing card or a race(s) are cancelled.

C) Please Note:
· Race Office will monitor all scratches from the outside post.
· If there are two horses deemed to be assigned the outside post in the same race, the Race Office will draw by lot for both horses to receive the outside post positions in the entered race.