(a) A person who wishes to protest the eligibility of a horse in a race or to protest the weight to be carried by a horse must make the protest with the stewards or other racing officials not less than one hour before post time for the first race on the day in which the horse is entered.(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the stewards may take any action necessary to correct the eligibility, weight, or equipment of a horse at any time before the start of the race in which the horse is scheduled to compete.(c) If the stewards determine before the start of a race that a horse entered in the race is not eligible for the race, the stewards shall immediately scratch the ineligible horse.