Wyoming Administrative Code
Agency 038 - Wyoming Gaming Commission
Sub-Agency 0001 - Pari-Mutuel
Chapter 5 - OFFICIALS
Section 5-16 - Stewards

(a) The Stewards shall have the power to interpret and enforce these Rules and determine all questions pertaining to a racing or pari-mutuel event matter not specifically covered by these Rules in conformity with justice and customs of the turf or pari-mutuel events, being subject to the powers and duties of the Commission.

(b) In matters pertaining to racing or pari-mutuel events, the order of the Stewards supersedes the orders of the officers and directors of the Permittee.

(c) It shall be the duty of the Stewards to regulate and govern the conduct of all officials and of all owners, trainers, ropers, jockeys, grooms, and other persons attending horses during, before and after events, unless the power and the duty is vested only in the Commission.

(d) The Stewards shall have unrestricted access to all stands, weighing rooms and jockey rooms, enclosures and other places in use for the event.

(e) All entries and declarations shall be under the supervision of the Stewards or Judges and no declaration shall be made without their permission.

(f) All questions within their authority shall be determined by a majority vote of the Stewards or Judges.

(g) In the interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the State of Wyoming, the Stewards may summarily declare a horse scratched and may suspend a license pending a Stewards hearing and/or hearing before the Commission.

(h) The Stewards have power to punish at their discretion any person subject to their control for violations of these Rules or regulations or for violation of the horse racing laws of Wyoming by suspension from acting or riding for up to thirty (30) calendar days or by fine not exceeding $1,000 or both, and if they consider necessary any further punishment or additional fine, they shall so report to the Commission. The licensee is entitled to attend an informal hearing with the Stewards before punishment is imposed.

(i) The Stewards are vested with the power to determine the extent of disqualification in case of fouls. They may place the offending horse behind the horses they judged it interfered with, or they may place it last.

(j) The Steward/Judges are vested with the power in roping events to determine the extent of an infraction. They may assess a time penalty, or disqualify the individual contestant.

(k) The Stewards may demand proof that a horse neither is disqualified in any particular; nor entered or owned, in whole or in part, by a disqualified person, or trained in whole or in part by a disqualified person. In absence of proof satisfactory to them, the Stewards may declare the horse disqualified.

(l) The Stewards/Judges may postpone a race, event, or performance from race day to race day or performance to performance.

(m) The Stewards shall have the power to examine or cause to be examined at any time any horse stabled on the Permittee grounds or in stabling approved by the Permittee.

(n) The three Stewards must be on duty during race time, which shall mean from one hour before post time for the first race of the day and until after the last race of the day has been made official.

(o) At least one of the Stewards or his deputy shall be on duty thirty (30) minutes prior to scratch time each morning until after the drawing of post positions.

(p) A Steward may appoint his own deputy at any time.

(q) If there is only one Steward present at race time that Steward shall appoint two other qualified persons to act with him as Stewards pro tem.

(r) If only two Stewards are present at race time, they shall, by agreement, appoint a deputy for the absent Steward, providing the absent Steward has not already appointed his own deputy.

(s) If none of the Stewards are present at race time, the Executive Director shall appoint three qualified persons to act as Stewards pro tem. If the Director is absent the Racing Secretary shall make the appointments.

(t) Appointments of any deputy for a Steward shall be reported immediately to the Commission.

(u) There shall be three Stewards (no more, no less) acting during the running of each race.

(v) When a vacancy occurs among the racing officials, other than the Stewards prior to post time of the first race of the day or when a vacancy occurs after the racing of the day has been started, the Stewards shall immediately fill the vacancy. The appointment shall be effective only for the day unless the Permittee fails to fill the vacancy on the following day and notifies the Stewards of its action not less than one hour before the post time of the first race of the day. Such appointments shall be reported immediately to the Commission.

(w) The Stewards shall take notice of any questionable conduct with or without complaint thereof.

(x) The Stewards may substitute a jockey of their selection on any horse.

(y) The Stewards may place any horse in the temporary charge of a trainer of their selection.

(z) It shall be the duty of the Stewards to see to it that horses arrive at the starting post as nearly as practicable at the advertised time.

(aa) The State Steward shall sound the bell closing the pari-mutuel wagering no later than the opening of the starting gate.

(bb) In case of accident or casualty to a horse before "Off-Time", the Stewards may excuse the horse.

(cc) The Stewards must investigate promptly and render a decision in every protest and in every complaint properly made to them.

(dd) The Stewards shall report all protests and complaints to the Commission daily and shall make prompt report to the Commission of their decision.

(ee) The Stewards shall file with the Commission a signed report of any and all infractions of the rules coming under their observance before the close of each day and shall file with the Commission daily any and all rulings made that day.