Judges

(a) Number, appointment, compensation, license. There shall be three (3) racing judges: the division racing judge, appointed and compensated by the division, and the presiding racing judge and associate racing judge, appointed and compensated by the association. The three (3) racing judges shall be held responsible for the proper conduct of the race meet, and shall have general supervision over the direct conduct of the races. The presiding racing judge shall make reports of any actions by the racing judges, when a report is required under sections 12-574-F21 to 12-574-F49, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, and shall transmit said reports to the division. All such reports submitted shall be signed by a majority of the racing judges. All racing judges and deputy racing judges shall be licensed by the division. (b) Deputy and temporary racing judges. The association shall appoint two (2) deputy racing judges to serve in the absence of the presiding racing judge or associate racing judge. In the event of an emergency, where a deputy racing judge who is called to duty is absent or cannot be present in time, the association may appoint a temporary racing judge from the licensed officials employed by the association. The association shall notify the division of the replacement(s). Appointments of temporary racing judges and utilization of deputy racing judges shall be made only with the full knowledge and consent of the duly authorized representative of the division at the track. Appointments of temporary racing judges are valid only for the day of their appointment. Likewise, the division shall appoint a deputy racing judge to act in the absence of the division racing judge. In the event that the division racing judge or deputy is absent, the rules governing temporary racing judges appointed by the association shall apply as necessary to temporary racing judge appointments made by the division. (c) Emergency substitute. (1) When vacancies occur among the officials, other than the racing judges, and the association has not filled such vacancies or notified the racing judges prior to the post time of the first race of the day, the racing judges shall fill such vacancy immediately, said appointment to stand for the day only. (2) Should the vacancy occur after the racing for the day has started, the racing judges shall fill the vacancy at once, the appointment standing for the day only, unless the association fails to fill the vacancy on the following day and notifies the racing judges of their action one hour before the post time for the first race, in which case the appointment will continue from day to day as required. (3) Emergency substitutes shall be persons holding a license from the division as an official. (d) Wagering prohibited. No racing judge may directly or indirectly wager on the result of a greyhound race conducted in Connecticut. (e) Vision requirements. All persons licensed as a racing judge or deputy racing judge shall possess corrected vision of 20/30 or better. (f) Division racing judge. The division racing judge shall supervise the conduct of the racing officials. Any infraction or violation of the sections 12-574-F21 to 12-574-F49, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies or chapter 226 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall be immediately reported to the division. (g) Laws, rules. The laws of the State of Connecticut and sections 12-574-F21 to 12-574-F49, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies supersede the conditions of a race and the rules of a race meet, and, in matters pertaining to racing, the orders of the racing judges supersede the orders of the officers of the association. (h) Interpretation. (1) The racing judges shall have the power to interpret the rules of greyhound racing and to decide all questions within their jurisdiction pertaining to racing not specifically covered in them. (2) Should any case occur which may not be covered in the rules of greyhound racing here outlined, it shall be determined by the racing judges in conformity with custom, precedent, justice and in the best interest of racing. (i) Majority rules. All questions pertaining to the rules of greyhound racing shall be determined by a majority of the racing judges. (j) Powers and duties. (1) All questions pertaining directly to racing which arise during the period of the meet shall be determined by the racing judges, but should they be unable to reach a decision in seventy two (72) hours, the case shall be reported to the division for such action as it deems proper. (2) The racing judges shall have jurisdiction over kennel owners, trainers and other persons attending to greyhounds and also over all other officials and licensed personnel of the meet directly involved in racing activities. (3) The racing judges shall have control over and free access to all stands, weighing rooms, enclosures and all other places in use for the purpose of racing. (4) All entries and declarations are under the supervision of the racing judges and they may, without notice, refuse the entries or the transfer of entries of any person. (5) The racing judges shall have the power to determine all questions arising with reference to entries and racing. (6) Persons entering greyhounds to run on licensed Connecticut tracks agree in so doing to accept the decision of the racing judges on any questions relating to a race or to racing, subject to their right of petition to the division. (7) Following a hearing conducted in accordance with the division rules of practice and hearing procedures, the racing judges shall have the authority to impose fines, suspensions or both upon licenses for violation of chapter 226 of the Connecticut General Statutes or sections 12-574-F1 to 12-574-F65, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (8) The racing judges' authority shall be limited to a suspension for no longer than sixty (60) days for anyone under their jurisdiction and a fine not exceeding $500.00 or they may impose a combination of these penalties. They may also suspend any person found guilty of any corrupt or fraudulent practices by greyhound racing authorities or judges of any other state. All such suspensions and fines shall be reported to the division. If the penalty capable of being imposed by the racing judges is not in their opinion sufficient, the racing judges shall refer the matter to the division. (9) Any party aggrieved by the imposition of a penalty by the racing judges may petition the division for a hearing de novo conducted in accordance with Chapter 54 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The petition shall be submitted in writing to the division within three days of official notice of the judges' decision. The taking of a petition to the division shall automatically stay any penalty imposed by the racing judges. (10) The racing judges shall have the power to disqualify a greyhound. (11) The racing judges shall have the power to investigate for proof that a greyhound is neither itself disqualified in any respect, nor owned, wholly or in part, by a disqualified person. Failure to prove ownership of the greyhound to the satisfaction of the racing judges may result in the disqualification of the greyhound. (12) The racing judges shall have the power at any time to order an examination by a veterinarian licensed by the division of any greyhound entered for a race or that has run in a race. (13) The racing judges shall have the power to review the grading and schooling of all greyhounds. Any greyhound may be placed on the schooling list by the racing judges at any time. (14) The racing judges shall report and investigate any questionable conduct directly related to racing. (15) The racing judges shall investigate promptly and render a decision on every objection and on every complaint made to them. (16) The racing judges shall take notice of corrupt racing and other questionable transactions on the track. Complaint thereof may be made by any person. If the complainant is a kennel owner or trainer and the charge is determined to be frivolous, the complainant may be liable for a suspension or fine. The postponement or cancellation of performances shall be supervised by the racing judges. (17) The racing judges shall determine the official race results. (18) The racing judges shall supervise weighing and starting procedures. (19) All scratches and substitutions shall meet the approval of the racing judges. (20) The racing judges shall have the power to review any matter referred to the racing judges by the board of administrative judges. (k) Report to division. (1) The racing judges shall report all objections and complaints to the division as soon as received by them and shall promptly report in writing to the division of their investigation and disposition of such objections and complaint(s). (2) The racing judges shall each day report in writing to the division all infractions of the rules and of all rulings of the racing judges upon matters coming before them. (l) Complaints against officials. Complaints against officials shall be made to the division in writing, and be signed by the complainant(s). (m) Display of winners. (1) The racing judges shall promptly display the numbers on the totalizator board of the first three greyhounds in each race in order of their finish. If the racing judges differ in their placing, the majority shall prevail. (2) Whenever it is considered advisable to inspect a reproduction of the finish of the race, the racing judges may post, without waiting for a reproduction, such placements as are in their opinion unquestionable and after inspecting the reproduction make the other placements. However, in no case shall the race be declared official until the racing judges have determined the greyhound finishing first, second and third. (3) Nothing in section 12-574-F9 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall be construed to prevent the racing judges from correcting an error before the display of the sign "official" or from recalling the sign "official" in case it has been displayed through error. (n) Finish line reproduction. On all tracks an approved finish line reproduction system shall be installed as an aid to the racing judges; however, in all cases the camera and its reproduction are merely aids, and the decision of the racing judges shall be final. The type of equipment used and its installation shall be approved by the division. Each association shall retain for five (5) years from the date of the race each reproduction of each race. The reproduction of each finish shall be posted or displayed in at least one conspicuous place as promptly as possible after each race. (o) Jams, spills. (1) If a race is marred by jams, spills or racing circumstances other than accidents to the equipment while a race is being run, and three or more greyhounds finish, the racing judges shall declare the race finished and official, however, if less than three greyhounds finish, the racing judges shall declare "no race" and all monies wagered on said race shall be refunded. (2) It shall be the duty of the racing judges to keep all races free from unnecessary interferences and jams caused by unruly or fighting greyhounds. (p) Make up of cancellations, report. A "no race" for any reason shall be immediately reported to the division by the racing judges, with a detailed explanation as to its cause. The association may, at its discretion, apply to the division for a "make up" race to replace the "no race". (q) Infraction of rules by racing judges. In the event that an infraction of the rules of greyhound racing is charged against one of the three racing judges conducting the meet, the other two remaining racing judges shall immediately refer the matter to the division, which may hear the matter on its own or permit the two remaining racing judges as a panel to hold a hearing. This rule shall apply regardless of whether the infraction is charged against one of the racing judges acting in an official capacity as a judge, acting as an individual in no official capacity, or acting in some other official capacity.