Cambridge – Te Awamutu HRC – 18 September 2008 – Race 7

hearingid: 0227c07cbd9204e28a7b8ce43090fb8b

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hearing_racingtype: harness-racing

startdate: 18/09/2008

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decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Cambridge - Te Awamutu HRC - 18 September 2008 - Race 7

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Rule 862 (2) & 869 (8) (a) Stipendiary Steward Mr T Taumanu lodged an Information instigating a protest following race 7 against the winner Horse 8 ALL TIGER (D Butcher) alleging a breach of Rule 826(2) in that it started from its incorrect barrier position.

Rule 862 (2) & 869 (8) (a) Stipendiary Steward Mr T Taumanu lodged an Information instigating a protest following race 7 against the winner Horse 8 ALL TIGER (D Butcher) alleging a breach of Rule 826(2) in that it started from its incorrect barrier position.

ALL TIGER was represented by Driver Mr D Butcher, Trainer Mr G Small and part owner Mr R Thomson.

            Rule 862 (2)    "No horseman shall permit a horse to start and no horse shall start other than from its correct barrier position(either at a  standing or mobile start), unless directed by the starter in accordance with Rule 860(8)."

Mr Taumanu explained to the hearing that ALL TIGER was drawn to start from Barrier 1 at the 20 metre mark in the 2700 metre standing start race.  From his position in the Judges Box he saw ALL TIGER start from the 20 metre mark closer 7 or 8 wide and therefore not in its correct barrier position.

He claimed that by starting from this position the horse had gained an unfair advantage over the rest of the field in that had a clear line to the head of the field without having to weave or negotiate through other runners.  From the start ALL TIGER in the length of the back straight was at the head of the field in the first turn.

Mr Butcher said he had no comment regarding the unfair advantage but his horse was worked up and being quite unruly so he elected to start wider out to stay out of trouble with him

Trainer Mr Small said he couldn’t see how the horse got an unfair advantage as he was still starting from the 20 metre mark, he still had the same distance to run.  He conceded the starting position allowed the horse a clearer way forward without having to negotiate other runners in seeking the lead but disagreed this gave ALL TIGER an unfair advantage.

Starter Mr Courtney said ALL TIGER started from about 5 wide.  He had noticed the horse's position just after the start and hadn’t directed Mr Butcher to his correct barrier position as his attention before that point had been taken by Mr Fergusson’s horse rearing up.  He had given the drivers directions prior to the start of the race on their starting positions.

DECISION AND REASONS

1.         ALL TIGER was drawn to start at  barrier 1 from the 20 metre mark in a standing start 2700 metre race.

2.         From a start there is potential for following horses to be impacted on by the behaviour of those drawn ahead.

            Starting from wide on the track Mr Butcher has largely removed any such potential and  gained an unfair advantage on the rest of the field as this position allowed him an unfettered straight run to the head of the field without having to move out from his correct starting position to overtake preceding horses.

            Within 500 metres of the start of the race ALL TIGER was in control at the head of the field.

3.         Although ALL TIGER was being fractious at the start at no point was he at or near the allotted barrier draw.  Mr Butcher made no attempt to start him from the correct position.  Had he done so and the horses behaviour dictated, the starter Mr Courtney could have directed him to start from another barrier position.

4.         Starter Mr Courtney in not redirecting Mr Butcher to his correct starting point prior to the commencement of the race and in also allowing the start has contributed to this unfairness.  It appears however that his attention was drawn to the behaviour of another starter and he failed to register that ALL TIGER was not in its correct barrier position before he started the race.

5.         Rule 862(2) is specific and refers to both standing and mobile start barrier positions.  Mr Butcher has clearly not adhered to this rule.

6.         Accordingly I am satisfied that ALL TIGER in starting from the incorrect barrier position has been allowed to gain an unfair advantage on all other runners and in accordance with Rule 868(8)          and pursuant to Rule 1003 the horse is disqualified.

The judges placings are amended as follows

            1st       1          LADY BESS

            2nd      6          WAIHEMO JOHN

            3rd       3          EBONY CHAPEL

            4th       4          PUHINUI RAINBOW

            5th       5          MARYLYNE BROMAC

            6th       9          STONEY CREEK

Jeff Holloway

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 862.2, 826.2, 860.8, 868.8

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raceid: 9dd16643346d9b221fc752bba7f77e82

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racecancelled: 0

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race_title: Race 7

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meetdate: 18/09/2008

meet_title: Cambridge - Te Awamutu HRC - 18 September 2008

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tracklocation: cambridge-te-awamutu-hrc

meet_racingtype: harness-racing

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name: Cambridge - Te Awamutu HRC