PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the duties and responsibilities of the stewards.

1. (1) The stewards shall exercise immediate supervision, control and regulation of racing at licensed race meetings. In addition to the duties and responsibilities necessary to the supervision, control and regulation and without limiting the authority of the stewards to perform these and other duties, the stewards shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

   1. (A) To appoint a substitute steward for any absent steward;
   2. (B) To be present in the stands during the running of each race;
   3. (C) The period of authority of the stewards of the race meet shall commence thirty (30) days prior to the meet and shall terminate thirty (30) days after the end of the meet;
   4. (D) To initiate investigations and inspect documents and premises of the licensed association for compliance with the rules;
   5. (E) To enforce these rules and racing laws of this state, charge any licensee with violations, conduct hearings as provided for in these rules and to impose fines of up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2500) or suspend occupational licenses for up to six (6) months or both. The stewards’ action shall not bar the commission from imposing a more severe penalty if so required in the determination of the commission. The stewards, instead of taking action against a licensee, may refer any violation to the commission for hearing and decision, but the stewards’ reference of any violation shall not be necessary as a condition of commission action against a licensee. In cases where fines or penalties alter the results of a race, the stewards may re-award purses, prizes, awards and trophies;
   6. (F) The decision of the stewards as to the extent of a disqualification of any horse in any race shall be final for the purposes of distribution of the pari-mutuel pool;
   7. (G) All fines imposed by the stewards upon a licensee shall be paid by the licensee to the commission within forty-eight (48) hours after imposition;
   8. (H) To approve the appointment of a substitute official when an official is temporarily unable to discharge his/her duties;
   9. (I) To place a substitute jockey on any horse, in an emergency when the trainer does not do so;
   10. (J) To designate a substitute trainer for any horse in an emergency;
   11. (K) To excuse any horse in case of accident, injury or other emergency;
   12. (L) To cancel trifecta (triple) wagering at any time they determine an irregular pattern of wagering or determine that the conduct of the race would not be in interest of the parimutuel industry or in the public confidence in racing. The stewards shall cancel trifecta wagering any time there are fewer than eight

2. (8) betting interests unless there is a late scratch in which there shall be a cancellation if there are fewer than seven (7) betting interests. At fair meetings (Class D), the stewards shall cancel trifecta wagering any time there are fewer than seven (7) betting interests unless there is a late scratch in which there shall be a cancellation if there are fewer than six (6) betting interests;

   1. (M) Fouls.

      1. 1. Upon any claim of foul submitted to

them, the stewards shall determine the extent of any disqualification and may place any horse found to be disqualified behind others in the race with which it interfered or may place the offending horse last in the race.

1. 2. When a horse is disqualified under

this rule and where that horse was a part of a coupled entry and, where, in the opinion of the stewards, the act which led to the disqualification served to unduly benefit the other part of the coupled entry, the stewards, at their discretion, may disqualify the other part of the entry;

1. (N) The stewards shall investigate promptly and render a decision in every protest and complaint made to them. They shall keep a record of all protests and complaints and any rulings made by the stewards and file the reports daily with the commission.

   1. 1. Protests involving fraud may be made

by any person at any time to the stewards.

1. 2. Protests, except those involving

fraud, may be filed only by the owner of a horse or his/her authorized agent, the trainer or the jockey of the horse in the race over which the protest is made. The protest must be made to the clerk of the scales or to the stewards before the race is declared official. If the placement of the starting gate is in error, no protest may be made, unless the protest is entered prior to the time the first horse enters the gate.

1. 3. A jockey who intends to enter a

protest to the clerk of scales following the running of any race, and before the race is declared official, shall notify the clerk of scales of this intention immediately upon the arrival of the jockey at the scales.

1. 4. During the time of determination of a

protest, any money or prize won by a horse protested or otherwise affected by the outcome of the race shall be paid to and held by the horsemen’s accountant until the protest is decided.

1. 5. A protest, other than one arising out

of the actual running of a race, must be in writing, signed by the complainant and filed with the stewards one (1) hour before post— time of the race out of which the protest arises;

1. (O) To lock all betting machines not later than the moment the starting gate is opened for the commencement of a race; to cause the inquiry sign to be posted on the infield odds board immediately after the horses have crossed the finish line if any doubt is held by any steward or patrol judge as to the running of the race; to cause the objection sign to be similarly posted upon the lodging of same; to cause the official sign to be similarly posted after determining the official order of finish for purposes of pari-mutuel payoffs;
2. (P) To review the video tape of each day’s races and to post a list of jockeys whom the stewards feel should review the tapes;
3. (Q) To demand proof that a horse is neither disqualified nor trained, owned in whole or part, or entered by a disqualified person; and
4. (R) To determine all questions arising with references to entries and racing; to interpret these rules and to decide all questions not specifically covered by them.

AUTHORITY: sections 313.520.3., 313.560.5. and 313.560.7., RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed Oct. 3, 1986, effective Jan. 12, 1987. *Original authority: 313.520, RSMo 1986, amended 1995; 313.560, RSMo 1986, amended 1987.