La. Admin. Code tit. 35 § III-2115

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section III-2115 - Specific Duties and Responsibilities

A. In addition to their general powers, the stewards shall have certain specific duties and responsibilities, to wit.

1. They shall take cognizance of all misconduct or rule infractions irrespective of whether or not complained of, and cause investigations to be made of all instances of possible rule infractions. They shall take such action as they deem necessary to prevent a rule infraction.

2. At least one steward shall be on association grounds from scratch time, or if not a racing day, when entries are first taken, until entries are closed. At least one steward shall be present for the regular showing of racing films or videotapes. All three stewards shall be on association grounds for a continuous period beginning two hours before post time for the first race until conclusion of the last race.

3. At least one steward, or a designated representative of the stewards, shall be present in the paddock at least 20 minutes before each race and until the horses leave for the starting gate, to observe the conduct of all persons in and around the paddock and to inspect, with the paddock judge and association and/or state veterinarian, all horses for fitness.

4. The stewards shall inspect all applications for licenses to participate in racing, and administer or cause to be administered by technically qualified persons, standard examinations to all first-time applicants for a trainer's license and jockey agent's license. They shall make recommendations to the commission as to the qualifications of all applicants for licenses to participate in racing.

5. They shall review all licenses, registration certificates and all contracts, papers, and other documents pertaining to the sale or ownership of a horse, payment of purse money, jockey and apprentice jockey contracts, appointment of agents, adoption of racing colors or stable name and determine the eligibility and appropriateness thereof for participation in racing.

6. They shall require proof of eligibility of a horse or person to participate in a race if such is in question, and in absence of sufficient proof to establish eligibility, they may rule such horse or person ineligible.

7. The stewards shall review and approve stall application forms. They also shall advise the association of undesirable persons, if any, among owners and trainers applying for stalls and provide the association with information pertaining to such undesirable persons.

8. They shall supervise the taking of entries, receive all declarations and scratches and determine all questions arising from and pertaining thereto. The stewards may, in their discretion, refuse the entry of any horse by any person, or refuse to permit a declaration or scratch, or may limit entries in any way.

9. They shall cause the "inquiry" sign to be posted on the infield odds board immediately after the horses have crossed the finish line in a race if any doubt is held by any steward or patrol judge as to the fairness of the running of the race. They shall cause the "objection" sign to be posted on the infield odds board upon the lodging of an objection. And they 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.

10. The stewards shall review the patrol films or videotapes of each day's races before commencement of the successive day's races and draw up a list of riders, including all apprentice jockeys who the stewards feel should review such films for instructional purposes and cause the list to be posted in the jockeys' room.

11. They shall maintain a daily log, reporting all their actions on all controversies which arise during the day. The reports shall show the name of the track, date, weather, track condition, claims, rulings issued and any other circumstances or conditions regarded as unusual. Such reports shall be signed by all three stewards and filed within 24 hours at the commission's general office.

12. They shall make periodic inspections of the barn area and check track security, and make occasional informal visits to the jockeys' room and observe and check security at the weighing out. Such inspections and observations made shall be noted in the steward's report.

13. The stewards shall maintain a minute book which shall contain a detailed written record of all questions, disputes, protests, complaints or objections brought to their attention. The minute book shall also include reports of all investigations undertaken by the stewards, summaries of all related interviews conducted and the rulings which resulted. If a ruling is not unanimous, the dissenting steward shall record reasons for his dissent. The steward's minute book shall be available to the commission for inspection at all times.

La. Admin. Code tit. 35, § III-2115

Promulgated by the Department of Commerce, Racing Commission, LR 2:425 (December 1976), amended LR 3:21 (January 1977), LR 4:272 (August 1978).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 4:141, R.S. 4:147, R.S. 4:148 and R.S. 4:172.