Section 017-3-4 - Officials restrictions1.Conflict of interest. No one interested in the result of a race, either because of ownership of any horse entered, or because of bets otherwise, shall act as a Racing Official for that race or participate in the draw for that race.2. No Racing Official or employee of the Department shall participate in pari-mutuel wagering on any horse racing on a race day when he or she is acting in his or her official capacity. Violation of this section is a level one violation of these rules.3.Accepting gifts. No racing official or his other assistants shall accept directly or indirectly, any gratuity, reward, or favor in connection with racing at the meeting.4. No official or employee of the Department shall be connected in any way with the parimutuel operation at any race meet where he or she is serving in his or her official capacity. Violation of this section is a level one violation of these rules.5.Underwriting insurance. No racing official or his or her assistants shall write or solicit horse insurance for the race meet.6.Ownership ProhibitedA. Any shareholder listed on the racing license application for racing race dates from the Maine State Harness Racing Commission is prohibited from racing any horse he or she owns or leases in whole or in part at that association's race meeting, without annual approval of the Commission. This rule is not applicable to Maine Sire Stakes.B. Managers and Assistant Managers of race meets may start horses in stakes races, early closing events and futurities, but shall not start horses without the specific approval of the Commission in late closing, preferred, free-for-all, claiming races nor any conditioned event at race meets under their jurisdiction.C. In the event a hidden ownership is employed to circumvent this rule, all owners involved will be subject to a fine and/or suspension.7. No racing official shall participate in the selection of the morning line nor be involved in any manner in the so-called "tip sheets" at pari-mutuel meetings at which he officiates.