Waikouaiti HRC – 20 February 2005 – Race 6

Mr Markham has alleged that LILLY LAINGTREE placed 1^st by the Judge and LIFE GOES BYE placed 2^nd by the Judge interfered with the chances of SKY CITY BLUE JEAN placed 6^th by the Judge, the interference occurring in the home straight with approximately 150 metres to run. He has asked that LILLY LAINGTREE and LIFE GOES BYE be placed immediately after SKY CITY BLUE JEAN pursuant to rule 869(8)(b) of the Rules of Harness Racing.

Mr Knowles, stipendiary steward, demonstrated the incident on the head-on video. Mr Markham, trainer of SKY CITY BLUE JEAN, alleged that LILLY LAINGTREE and LIFE GOES BYE both moved out some 150 metres from the finish onto SKY CITY BLUE JEAN causing that runner to break and lose its chance. He demonstrated on the video that SKY CITY BLUE JEAN had gone for a gap outside LIFE GOES BYE and that it had closed as he went through it because of outwards movement from the fore-mentioned horses. Mr Renault, driver of CITY BLUE JEAN, confirmed Mr Markham's interpretation of the video, adding that his horse galloped as a consequence of contact. Mr Anderson and Mr Gray, trainer and driver of LILLY LAINGTREE, respectively, both stated that when a gap presented itself between the fence and LIFE GOES BYE the horse simply moved into it and ran on to win the race. They disputed the fact that their horse had contributed in any way to the incident. Mr Gray, driver a of LIFE GOES BYE, stated that SKY CITY BLUE JEAN was hanging and was never going well enough to run past his horse or LILLY LAINGTREE. Mr Bennett, trainer of LIFE GOES BYE, confirmed this and added there was never sufficient room in the gap for SKY CITY BLUE JEAN and that the horse galloped of its own accord.

When asked to comment on the evidence Mr Knowles, stipendiary steward, stated that in his view there was never sufficient room for SKY CITY BLUE JEAN to progress between LIFE GOES BYE and the horse on its outer.

After viewing the videos and the listening to the parties and the stipendiary steward I am of the view that SKY CITY BLUE JEAN was hanging before Mr Renault attempted to progress through a gap that presented itself outside LIFE GOES BYE. I believe the horse was flat at the time and, significantly, that there was never enough room for SKY CITY BLUE JEAN to progress in accordance with the Rules of Harness Racing. LILLY LAINGTREE did not contribute to the incident in any way. Consequently I find that neither LILLY LAINGTREE nor LIFE GOES BYE interfered with the chances or progress of SKY CITY BLUE JEAN. The protest is dismissed and the placings are as the horses passed the post.