Marlborough HRC – 27 April 2008 – Race 4

hearingid: 7e905e3c776f3231ac3f4b6d87d237a1

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hearing_racingtype: harness-racing

startdate: 27/04/2008

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hearing_title: Marlborough HRC - 27 April 2008 - Race 4

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Following the running of race 4, a protest was lodged by the stipendiary stewards against horse no. 6, Stormy Seas (A Veint), placed 5th by the Judge, on the grounds of causing interference in the run home, initially to horse no. 7, Lady Bess

Following the running of race 4, a protest was lodged by the stipendiary stewards against horse no. 6, Stormy Seas (A Veint), placed 5th by the Judge, on the grounds of causing interference in the run home, initially to horse no. 7, Lady Bess (S Anderson) and, after an application to amend the Information, also to horse no. 5 Artenis Fleet (T Walsh).

The placings were: 14 - 2 - 12 - 13 - 6 - 5. The margin between 5th, Stormy Seas, and 6th, Artenis Fleet, was .6 of a length, with a further distance back to Lady Bess which finished 12th.

At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Veint, the driver of Stormy Seas, indicated that he accepted his horse caused interference but expressed reservations at any effect on Lady Bess. This being the case, the parties were advised that the purpose of the enquiry was to establish what interference did occur and, to clarify, the hearing proceeded.

Referring to the video of the incident, stipendiary steward Mr Ydgren identified the respective horses. He showed Mr Veint (on Stormy Seas) driving his horse out in the run home, and moving out onto Mr Walsh (Artenis Fleet) and forcing him onto Mr Anderson (Lady Bess) who, with horses outside him, ran out of room and broke.

Mr Ydgren said the distance Mr Veint ran out was considerable and, in answer to that driver’s earlier comment, said that, regardless of how well Mr Anderson was going at the time, he was entitled to race without interference. He said that at no stage did Mr Veint stop driving his horse to straighten him up, or correct.

Mr Walsh stated that he moved outside Mr Veint but he came across and gradually kept taking him across the track and into the outside horses that were holding their line. He said that this ‘cost him’ and, at the finish, he was only half a length back from Mr Veint.

To the chairman, Mr Walsh confirmed that, as a result, there was contact between his horse and Mr Anderson (on his outside).

Mr Anderson, in his account, said that his horse (Lady Bess) was quite tired and drifting and, as the horses came across, he got cramped between the inside and outside horses. He said there was contact, but he wasn’t going that good at the time.

On the resumption of the hearing, and the close proximity to the next race, the parties were advised that a brief decision would be given, with full reasons available later.

This is a protest by horse nos. 5, Artenis Fleet, and 7, Lady Bess, against horse no. 6, Stormy Seas, on the grounds of interference. Initially the protest was by horse no.7 only but, following the viewing of the race, the stipendiary stewards sought to amend the Information to indicate the protest was by both horses, nos. 5 and 7.

The alleged interference was described by stipendiary steward Mr Ydgren, who referred to the video of the incident, and was endorsed by the affected drivers, Mr Walsh (Artenis Fleet) and Mr Anderson (Lady Bess).

Mr Veint, the driver of Stormy Seas (against whom the protest was lodged) accepted that interference did occur and it is up to this committee to determine, if that interference occurred, the extent of the interference and whether there was sufficient to alter the placings. Following the evidence, we accept that some interference occurred, as acknowledged by Mr Veint.

In respect to horse no. 7, Lady Bess, we are not satisfied it was sufficient to alter the placings. Whilst it was clear Lady Bess was impeded by the inside horses, driver Mr Anderson indicated she was not going that well at the time, that she was tiring and drifting, and he did not persevere with the horse. Taking that into account, we are not satisfied it was cause for altering the placings. That protest is dismissed.

In respect to horse no.5, Artenis Fleet, driver Mr Walsh said he covered considerable extra ground by being forced wider by Stormy Seas and that, in so doing, he came into contact with Lady Bess outside him, and lost some distance. On the evidence, as acknowledged by Mr Veint, we are satisfied that there was interference, and that the chances of Artenis Fleet were affected.

Accordingly, the protest is upheld, and we exercise our discretion to relegate horse no.6, Stormy Seas, to 6th, behind the affected Artenis Fleet. The placings are now:-

1.  14  Bramley Town

2.  2    Murky Lurker

3. 12   Rushin Courage

4.  13  Sam Brocade

5.  5    Artenis Fleet

6.  6   Stormy Seas

PH.Welch                                         JM Phelan

Chairman

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

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raceid: 9216b8baf2867ecb8c552ad2a443727d

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race_title: Race 4

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meetdate: 27/04/2008

meet_title: Marlborough HRC - 27 April 2008

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name: Marlborough HRC