R 431.3025 Stewards; duties and responsibilities; complaints against officials.

Rule 3025. (1) In addition to the general powers specified in these rules, the stewards shall have all of the following specific duties and responsibilities: (a) Taking cognizance of all misconduct or rule infractions, whether reported or not, and investigating all instances of possible rule infractions. They shall take action as they consider necessary to prevent a rule infraction. (b) At least 1 steward shall be on the grounds from scratch time, or, if not a racing day, when entries are first taken, until entries are closed. At least 1 steward shall be present for the regular showing of racing films or videotapes. All 3 stewards shall be on the grounds for a continuous period beginning 2 hours before post time for the first race and ending at the conclusion of the last race. All 3 stewards shall be present when contemplating disciplinary action. (c) Inspecting all applications for licenses to participate in racing and administering, or causing to be administered by qualified persons, examinations of all first-time applicants for a trainer's license and jockey agent's license. The stewards may make recommendations to the executive director as to the qualifications of all applicants for licenses to participate in racing. (d) Reviewing registration certificates, contracts, papers, and other documents pertaining to any of the following: (i) The sale or ownership of a horse. (ii) Payment of purse money. (iii) Jockey and apprentice jockey contracts. (iv) Appointment of agents. (v) Adoption of assumed names by stable owners. (vi) Determining the eligibility and appropriateness for participation in racing. (e) Requiring proof of eligibility of a horse or person to participate in a race if it is in question. In the absence of sufficient proof to establish eligibility, the stewards may rule the horse or person ineligible. (f) Supervising the taking of entries, receiving all declarations and scratches, and determining all questions arising from and pertaining to such entries, declarations, and scratches. The stewards may refuse the entry of any horse by a person, may refuse to permit a declaration or scratch, or may limit entries. (g) Assuring that the “inquiry” sign is posted on the infield odds board immediately after the horses have crossed the finish line in a race if any steward or patrol judge doubts the fairness of the running of the race. The stewards shall cause the “objection” sign to be posted on the infield odds board when an objection is lodged and shall cause the “official” sign to be posted on the infield odds board after determining the official order of finish for purposes of the pari-mutuel payoff. (h) Maintaining a stewards’ report in the manner and form prescribed by the executive director and reporting all actions of the stewards that arise during a race day. (i) Making periodic inspections of the barn area, checking track security, and making visits to the jockeys' room to observe and check security at the weighing out. The inspections and observations made shall be noted in the steward's report. (2) The stewards may review the video recordings of each day's races before commencement of the successive day's races and compile a list of riders who they feel should review films for instructional purposes. If a list is compiled, the stewards shall assure that the list is posted in the jockeys' room. (3) In the performance of their duties, the stewards shall have unrestricted access to all areas and grounds of the association. (4) A complaint against a racing official may be made to the stewards or to the executive director. Complaints made directly to the stewards shall be reported to the executive director, in writing, together with any action taken by the stewards.