N.J. Admin. Code § 13:71-8.23

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 13:71-8.23 - Duties of judges

(a) It shall be the duty of the judges to:

1. Exclude from the race any horse that in their opinion is improperly equipped, dangerous or unfit to race. A horse is unfit to race if he is sick, blind, weak or extremely lame. No horse shall race with a tube in its throat. Where a driver or owner reports to the presiding judge that his horse is unfit to race, ill or otherwise physically incapable of racing, the presiding judge shall call for an examination of the horse by the track veterinarian and the track veterinarian shall examine such horse and submit a written report of his findings to the presiding judge;

2. Investigate any apparent or possible interference or other violation of the rules whether or not a complaint has been made by a driver;

3. Investigate any act of cruelty, seen by them or reported to them, toward a race horse during a meeting at which they officiate. If the judges find that such an act has been committed, they shall penalize the offending person;

4. Immediately thereafter or on the day of the race the judges shall fill out a complete accident report and mail the report to the United States Trotting Association;

5. Observe the performance of the drivers and the horses closely to ascertain if there are any violations of these rules. They shall exhaust all means possible to safeguard the contestants and the public;

6. Grant a hearing at a designated time in accordance with the rules before a penalty may be imposed upon any party. All three judges should be present if possible, and at least the presiding judge and one associate judge must be present at all hearings. The judges may inflict the penalties prescribed by these rules. All penalties shall be recorded as per the rules. Such penalty is effective from the time the penalized party receives notice thereof in accordance with the rules;

7. Declare a dash or heat of a race no contest in the event that a track is thrown into darkness during the progress of a race by failure of electricity.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:71-8.23