Connecticut Administrative Code
Title 12 - Taxation
574-B - The Operation of Harness Racing
Section 12-574-B43 - Protests

(a) Protests. Protests may be made only by an owner, manager, trainer or driver of one of the contending horses at any time before the winnings are paid. Protests shall be reduced to writing and sworn to, before a judge of the meeting or a notary public and shall contain at least one specific charge which, if true, could prevent the horse from winning or competing in the race.

(b) Testimony under oath. The judges shall, in every case of protest, demand that the driver and the owner or owners, if present, immediately testify under oath and in case of their refusal to do so, the horse shall not be allowed to start or continue in the race, but shall be ruled out, with a forfeit of entrance money.

(c) Continuing race under protest. Unless the judges find satisfactory evidence to warrant excluding the horse, they shall allow him to start or continue in the race under protest, and the premium, if any is won by that horse, shall be held by the association until the commission shall have determined the merits of the protest.

(d) False protests, failure to protest. Any person found guilty of protesting falsely and without cause or merely with intent to embarrass a race or who does not file a protest notwithstanding that he has knowledge which would warrant the filing thereof, shall be penalized hereunder.

(e) Distribution of pools. Nothing herein contained shall affect the distribution of the pari-mutuel pools when such distribution is made upon the official placing at the conclusion of the heat or dash.

(f) Purse held in trust where appeal or protest filed. In case of an appeal or protest, the purse money affected shall be deposited with the association in a trust fund pending the decision of the appeal.

(g) Refusal to accept protest or act as witness. No judge may refuse to accept a protest or appeal or act as a witness for a person seeking to swear to a protest or appeal.