Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 09 - MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR › Subtitle 10 - RACING COMMISSION › Chapter 09.10.01 - Thoroughbred Rules › Section 09.10.01.45 - Stewards

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. When a vacancy
				occurs among the racing officials before post time of the first race of the
				day, or when a vacancy occurs after the racing of the day has started, the
				stewards immediately shall fill the vacancy. The appointment shall be effective
				only for the day, unless the association fails to fill the vacancy on the
				following day and notifies the stewards of its action not less than 1 hour
				before the post time of the first race of the day.
B. These appointments shall be reported
				immediately to the Racing Commission.
C. The stewards shall take notice of any
				questionable conduct with or without complaint thereof.
D. It is the duty of the stewards to see to
				it that horses arrive at the starting post as near to the advertised post time
				as practical.
E. In case of
				accident or casualty to a horse before off-time, the stewards may excuse that
				horse.
F. The stewards shall
				investigate promptly, and render a decision in every protest and in every
				complaint properly made to them.
G.
				The stewards shall report all protests and complaints to the Commission as soon
				as received by them, and shall make prompt report to the Commission of their
				decision.
H. The stewards have the
				power to interpret these rules and to decide all questions not specifically
				covered by them.
I. In matters
				pertaining to racing, the orders of the stewards supersede the orders of the
				officers and directors of the association.
J. The stewards have the power and the duty
				to regulate and govern the conduct of all racing officials and of all owners,
				trainers, jockeys, grooms, and other persons attendant on horses during,
				before, and after races.
K. In the
				performance of duty, the stewards have control over, and unrestricted access
				to, all stands, weighing rooms, and jockey rooms, enclosures and other places
				in use for the meeting.
L. All
				entries and declarations are under the supervision of the stewards.
M. The stewards have the power to determine
				all questions arising with reference to entries and racing.
N. All questions within the stewards'
				authority shall be determined by a majority vote of the stewards.
O. The stewards have the power to punish for
				violation of these rules any person subject to their control and, in their
				discretion, to impose fines or suspensions, or both, for infractions.
P. The stewards may demand proof that a horse
				is neither disqualified in any way nor trained, entered, or owned, in whole or
				in part, by a disqualified person. In default of proof satisfactory to them,
				the stewards may declare the horse disqualified.
Q. The stewards have the power to examine, or
				cause to be examined, at any time any horse stabled on the association grounds
				or in stabling approved by the Commission.
R. A steward may appoint his own deputy at
				any time.
S. Appointment of any
				deputy or deputies for a steward or stewards shall be reported immediately to
				the Commission and its approval obtained.
T. There shall be three stewards in the stand
				when a race is being run.
T-1. The
				stewards shall lock all pari-mutuel betting machines not later than the moment
				the starting gate is opened for the beginning of a race.
U. Complaints against an official or
				officials shall be made to the stewards in writing, signed by the complainants.
				All complaints shall be reported to the Commission, together with the action,
				if any, taken on them by the stewards.
V. Violations.
(1) If the stewards find that an individual
				licensed by the Commission has violated a regulation of the Commission or has
				been involved in any improper turf practice, they may:
(a) Exclude the individual from the grounds,
				or any portion of the grounds, of the association conducting the
				meeting;
(b) Exclude the individual
				from the grounds of any association under the jurisdiction of the
				Commission;
(c) Suspend the license
				of the individual to act or ride for a period not exceeding 90 days;
(d) Fine the individual not more than $2,500;
				or
(e) Impose any combination of
				the sanctions set forth in §V(1)(a)-----(d) of this regulation.