524 RULES OF THE COURSE. 



RULE 16. Protests. Protests may be made verbally before or during a race, and 

 shall be reduced to writing, and shall contain at least one specific charge, and, when 

 required, a statement of the nature of the evidence upon which they are based, and 

 they shall be filed with the Judges, Association, or proprietor before the close of the 

 meeting. 



The Judges shall in every case of protest demand that the rider or driver, and the 

 owner or owners, if present, shall immediately testify under oath, in the manner 

 hereinafter provided; and in case of their refusal to do so, the horse shall not be 

 allowed thereupon to start or continue in that race, but shall be considered and 

 declared ruled out, with forfeit of entrance money. 



But if the parties do comply, and take the oath as herein required, unless the 

 Judges find conclusive 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 retained a sufficient length of time (say three weeks) to allow the par- 

 ties interested a chance to sustain the allegations of the protest, or to furnish infor- 

 mation which shall warrant an investigation of the matter by the associate member, 

 or the Board of Appeals, and all outside bets on such horse shall be held in abeyance 

 pending the decision of such protest ; provided, that where no action as aforesaid 

 has been taken to sustain a protest, during three weeks, the associate member shall 

 proceed as if such protest had not been made. 



In any heat which such protested horse shall win, the Judges shall waive the appli- 

 cation of a distance as to all other horses, except for " fouls " defined in Rule 48. 



When a protest is presented before or during a race, and the parties refuse to make 

 the prescribed oath, if the Judges believe the refusal is designed to favor a fraud, 

 they may require the horse under protest to start or continue in the race. 



Any person found guilty of protesting a horse falsely and without cause, or merely 

 with intent to embarrass a race, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100, or by 

 suspension not to exceed one year, or by expulsion. 



When a protest has been duly made, or any information lodged with the Judges in 

 support of a protest, alleging an improper entry or any act prohibited or punishable 

 under these rules, the same shall not be withdrawn or surrendered before the expira- 

 tion of three weeks, without the approbation of the association or proprietor of the 

 course upon which such protest or information was produced ; and if any association 

 or proprietor shall permit such a withdrawal of protest or information, with a corrupt 

 motive to favor any party who shall be affected by the same, the association or pro- 

 prietor so ^permitting, if convicted thereof by the Board of Appeals, shall be expelled 

 from all connection with the National Association. 



Associations or proprietors shall be warranted in retaining the premium of any 

 horse, during the time herein mentioned, without any formal protest, if before it is 

 paid they shall receive information in their judgment tending to establish fraud. 



