549.02 Duties of sheriffs.—Every sheriff who shall receive the notice provided for in s. 549.01, or who shall have other notice or knowledge of the proposed occurrence of any race meet within her or his county, shall forthwith take such measures as shall be reasonably necessary for the safeguarding of the public and the protection of persons from injury while such race shall be in progress. Every sheriff may appoint a sufficient number of deputies to thoroughly police the course over which such race is to take place, and may designate and maintain the boundaries prescribed for such course by stakes, ropes or otherwise, wherever it may seem necessary.