Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 163.340 - Power of stewards(a) In matters pertaining to racing, the orders of the stewards shall supersede the orders of the officers and directors of the association. The stewards shall have the power and duty to regulate and supervise the conduct of racing officials and of owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and other persons attendant on horses during, before and after races, unless the power and the duty is exclusively vested in the Commission.(b) The authority of each board of stewards shall extend from 12:01 a.m. of the day upon which entries commence to be taken for a meeting at which they are approved to sit and shall continue until midnight of the third day following the last racing day of each meet. If a dispute is unresolved at the time, it may be heard later or disposed of by the stewards or referred to the Commission. This section does not limit the power of a board to impose sanctions continuing beyond the end of a meeting or to decide a matter occurring and heard before the end of the third day following the end of the meeting. In addition to other reports required of them, the stewards shall immediately at the end of the third day following the end of a meeting specifically report to the Commission the matters still pending before them that have not been finally resolved. The requirement may not apply where there is a succeeding meeting approved to commence at the same track within no less than 30 days. In the latter event, the power of the board of stewards at both meetings, is deemed to be continuing and sustaining.(c) In the performance of duty, the stewards shall have reasonable control over and unrestricted access to stands, weighing rooms and jockey rooms, stables, barns and other areas of the enclosure.(d) The stewards shall have the power to determine questions arising with reference to entries and racing.(e) The stewards shall have the power to punish a person for violation of this chapter subject to their control and to impose fines or suspensions or both for infractions whether arising from complaint, protest, independent investigation, reference or request by the Commission or their own initiative. The stewards may not impose a fine in excess of $250. If it is deemed appropriate that a larger fine should be imposed, the stewards shall recommend to the Commission and shall refer the matter at hand to the Commission. The stewards shall have the power to refer a matter before them to the Commission if it appears proper because of the complexity, severity, uniqueness or extent of the activities likely to be involved. Included within these powers is the authority to impose partial sanctions, such as conditional limitations on a persons usage of facilities or of the enclosure.(f) The stewards may suspend a person or disqualify a horse for fixed periods of time or under other conditions they may deem appropriate or as may be specified by this chapter. If a person is indefinitely suspended or is ordered suspended for more than the balance of a meeting, the matters shall promptly be referred to the Commission for final disposition.(g) The stewards shall have the power to exclude or eject from premises and enclosures of the association a person who: (1) Is disqualified for corrupt practice on the turf in any country.(2) Is under an order of suspension or revocation or has been denied a license or ruled off by a racing commission or board of stewards.(3) Is an improper or objectionable person, under section 12.1 of the act of December 11, 1967 (P. L. 707, No. 331) (15 P. S. § 2662.1(a)) (Repealed).(h) The stewards may postpone a race from race day to race day.(i) The stewards shall have the power to cause to be examined a horse stabled on the association grounds, or in a stabling area approved by the association.