(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a licensee shall give preference in stall allocation to a trainer:
(i) who has a permanent residence in the State; and
(ii) whose horse qualifies under the eligibility rules that the Commission or a licensee adopts.
(2) A licensee need not allocate more than 60% of the licensee’s stalls to trainers who have permanent residences in the State.
(3) A trainer who claims a preferential action under this subsection shall give the licensee an affidavit stating the qualifications and condition of each horse for which the trainer requests a stall.
(b) (1) This subsection applies to trainers who:
(i) are from the northeastern area of the State; and
(ii) were chosen originally by the licensee as eligible for stall space.
(2) The Commission shall seek cooperation among licensees to ensure that, when horses are stabled for a race meeting at a track in the State, consideration is given to assigning a trainer, to the extent practicable and without charge, a stall nearest to the county of residence of the trainer.