1. Race Date Policy

The official race date will be the second Sunday of December. This date is final and will not be changed, no matter the weather conditions.

2. Registration Period

The official registration period for the Tampa Bay Classic Race opens on February 1 and closes on June 30.

Entries submitted after June 30 may be rejected by race management.

All entries are subject to review and approval by race management.

3. Eligibility

Any eligible handler located south of the county line may participate in the Tampa Bay Classic Race.

All entries must be submitted before the official deadline established by race management.

Race management reserves the right to refuse any entry that does not meet the race requirements.

4. Entry Requirements

All pigeons must be properly identified and entered before the official entry deadline.

Each pigeon entered in the Tampa Bay Classic Race must carry a valid official AU or IF band.

The band number must match the official entry records.

Pigeons with missing, altered, unreadable, or mismatched bands may be rejected or disqualified by race management.

Each participant is responsible for providing accurate information for all pigeons entered in the race.

Incomplete, incorrect, or late entries may be rejected by race management.

5. Health and Welfare

All pigeons must be healthy and fit for competition.

Each handler is responsible for the care, health, treatment, and welfare of the pigeons under his or her responsibility.

Any pigeon showing signs of illness, weakness, injury, or poor condition may be removed from competition at the discretion of race management.

The welfare of the pigeons must always come first.

6. Handler Rule

The race handler may not fly his or her own pigeons in this race.

7. Fair Competition

All participants must compete honestly and professionally.

Any attempt to manipulate results, provide false information, interfere with another participant’s pigeons, or violate race rules may result in disqualification.

Respectful conduct is required from all participants before, during, and after the race.

8. Clocking and Results

Official results will be based on the BENZING clocking system.

Any clocking issue, technical concern, or result dispute must be submitted to race management for review.

Once results are reviewed and confirmed, they will be considered official.

9. Expenses

The Tampa Bay Classic Race will retain 5% for race expenses.

This amount may be used for race organization, administration, transportation, supplies, awards, communication, and other necessary event costs.

10. Rule Acceptance

By entering pigeons in the Tampa Bay Classic Race, each participant confirms that he or she has read, understands, and accepts all official race rules.

Participation in the race constitutes acceptance of these rules and any official updates published by race management.

11. Limitation of Responsibility

Tampa Bay Classic Race, race management, handlers, transport personnel, and representatives shall not be responsible for loss, injury, illness, death, weather-related outcomes, transportation incidents, clocking issues, or circumstances beyond reasonable control.

Participants enter pigeons at their own risk.

12. Ownership After the Race

After the race, all pigeons entered in the Tampa Bay Classic Race become the property of the race handler.

By entering pigeons in this race, each participant accepts this condition.

13. Final Authority

Race management has the final authority on eligibility, race procedures, clocking issues, results, disputes, and rule enforcement.

All decisions made by race management shall be final.