Virginia Law

In addition to the duties necessary and pertinent to the general supervision, control and regulation of race meetings or satellite facilities, the stewards shall have the following specific duties:

1. Causing investigations to be made in all instances of possible violations of federal laws, state laws, local ordinances and regulations of the commission;

2. Being present within the enclosure at a race meeting no less than 90 minutes before post time of the first race and remaining until 15 minutes after the last race is declared "official";

3. Being present in the stewards' stand during the running of all races at race meetings;

4. Administering examinations for applicants applying for permits as trainers, jockeys, apprentice jockeys or farriers to determine the applicants' qualifications for the permits;

5. Determining the identification of horses;

6. Determining eligibility of horses for races restricted to Virginia breds;

7. Determining eligibility of a horse or person to participate in a race;

8. Supervising the taking of entries and the drawing of post positions;

9. Approving or denying requests for horses to be excused from racing;

10. Locking the totalizator at the start of the race so that no more pari-mutuel tickets may be sold;

11. Determining alleged violations of these regulations in the running of any race through their own observation or by patrol judges and posting the "inquiry" sign when there are alleged violations;

12. Determining alleged violations of these regulations in the running of any race brought to their attention by any participant and posting the "objection" sign when there are alleged violations;

13. Causing the "official" sign to be posted after determining the official order of finish for the purposes of the pari-mutuel payout;

14. Reviewing the video tapes of the previous day's races and determining the jockeys who should review the films for instructional purposes;

15. Making periodic inspections of the facilities within the enclosure at race meetings, including but not limited to the stable area, paddock, and jockeys' room;

16. Reporting their findings of their periodic inspections of the facilities to the commission;

17. Filing with the commission a written daily report during race meetings. Such report shall contain a detailed written record of all questions, disputes, protests, complaints or objections brought to the attention of the stewards, a summary of any interviews relating to these actions, copies of any rulings issued by the stewards, and any emergency actions taken and the basis for the actions;

18. Submitting to the commission after the conclusion of the race meeting a written report setting out their findings on the conduct of the race meeting, the condition of the facilities and any recommendation for improvement that they deem appropriate; and

19. Imposing any of the following penalties on a licensee, participant or permit holder for a violation of these regulations:

a. Issue a reprimand;

b. Assess a fine;

c. Require forfeiture or redistribution of a purse or award;

d. Place a permit holder or participant on probation with or without conditions;

e. Suspend a permit holder or participant with or without conditions;

f. Revoke a permit;

g. Exclude from the grounds under the jurisdiction of the commission; or

h. Any combination of the above.