“MAIDEN CLAIMING RACES”: In maiden claiming races, the slaves are eligible to be CLAIMED (purchased) out of the race by other mare-Masters. Often, ladies beginning their careers in maiden claiming races have failed to show their owners (and trainer) enough talent during training, so they begin their career with a lower level price tag.
“MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT RACES”: These races are the highest level of the various maiden races. Ladies entered in maiden special weight races are protected in that another Master can't claim them out of a race. Maiden special weight races come in many conditions based upon age, surface, and distance. A trainer should be able to find the right spot for his maiden to win — whether it's in a sprint or route race, dirt or turf race, and so on.
The owner and trainer prefer that their mare “BREAKS IT’S MAIDEN” (wins for the first time) in a maiden special weight. Doing so proves the bitch has some quality and may develop into a nice runner. If a mare struggles to GRADUATE (win her first race) in a maiden special weight race, she can be dropped down in class into maiden claiming races.
So far, you can see that organized pony mare racing follows horse racing closely. However, most Masters own multi-purpose mares, ladies who provide sexual, house-related or farm labor-related services beside their work on the track. So claiming races are rare, and are usually run in clandestine circuits where mares of an age-class are rounded up (enslaved) strictly for the purpose of being quickly trained and groomed to enter sulky-pulls designed to increase their financial value and will be sold by the claiming process with heartless indifference. (Such practices are more widespread in 3rd world countries).
Very much as in the horse world, age is a major factor. J-Ranch specializes in mature ladies, so age has brought on some very special rules and regulations. While any mare may be taken to J-RANCH from age 18 and up, the average age at any given time hovers around 50-53. Years ago, an age-cap was imposed. That is, a mature lady who has been in servitude for five years and reaches age 65 MUST be entered in only claiming races. Her Master can only suggest a minimum sales price to a board of overseers who set her claiming price. If she is raced or dressaged, other Masters may make offers over the claim price, and win her. They must be members in good standing in the USSA, and must continue to race the bitch for 3 more years (in claiming races). This rule is to prevent a slave being snatched up for some particular sexual perversion, hard labor duty, or prostitution overseas where ‘white’ ladies of virtually any age are prized by Arab or African cultures.
Sweet Lisa had reached the criteria that made her next event a claiming event. Remember that her husband Gary was her “Master” whereas I was just her trainer (or Overseer).
After much consultation and strategy meetings, Gary placed $ 100,000 price on Lisa for her upcoming Dressage event (where we truly wished to win a ribbon for him), which was adjusted to $ 75,000 by the board. After the upcoming Dressage competition, I was prepared to make a bid for the poor lady myself, in which case I would become her Master and Gary, her husband, would see little difference in his wife’s behavior. For me, it meant selling off my slave, my sister-in-law Judy, to raise the money. More next time.]
FROM LISA’S DIARY: “Dearest Diary. I’ll never understand all the attention I’m receiving lately and I fear something is in the works that may make my lot in life even more difficult. I was taken to visit three men, “the Board of Overseers” and made to do terrible things. They made me run nude (in heels) under the whip on a treadmill until I fell down with exhaustion. In that weakened condition, I had to swallow each of their erections until they climaxed, and had my anus examined by their fingers. They were quite polite, and thanked me for my cooperation. It was all almost ‘clinical’ in nature – which made it all the more degrading. Diary, what on earth is happening to me? I can only trust that my dear husband knows about it, and has my best interest at heart. He always does! Luv, Me.”