NZ Metro TC – 27 February 2007 – Race 2

hearingid: 88eaec75a3561da86c71f4bbba5b2498

informantnumber:

horsename:

hearing_racingtype: harness-racing

startdate: 27/02/2007

newcharge:

plea:

penaltyrequired:

decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: NZ Metro TC - 27 February 2007 - Race 2

charge:

facts:

appealdecision:

isappeal:

submissionsfordecision:

reasonsfordecision:

Decision:

Following the running of Race 2, the Avon City Ford Ranger Pace, an Information Instigating a Protest was laid by Stipendiary Steward Mr N. G. McIntyre alleging a breach of Rule 869(8).

Following the running of Race 2, the Avon City Ford Ranger Pace, an Information Instigating a Protest was laid by Stipendiary Steward Mr N. G. McIntyre alleging a breach of Rule 869(8). The information reads as follows.

"This is a protest against horse number (2) placed 3^rd by the judge on the grounds of interference to horse number (1) over the early stages."

Rule 869(8) reads as follows.

"The Judicial Committee may in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed pursuant to Rule 1003 thereof place any horse which:

------

--
1. may have gained an advantage by any conduct or interference prohibited by any preceding provision of this Rule and/or
--
2. may have interfered with, or whose horseman may have interfered with, the progress or chance of any other horse or horses, -

immediately after any horse from which it may have gained an advantage or whose chances or progress may have been affected thereby.

Present at the hearing were Mr M. P. Jones, the driver of "Blast For Me" (2), and Mr J. M. Gray the driver of "Van The Man" (1). None of the connections of the two horses were present at the hearing, and both Mr Jones and Mr Gray advised that they would represent the interests of the connections of their horses.

Mr Gray gave evidence that he had drawn number one at the barrier with Mr Jones on his outside. When the barrier was released Mr Jones horse had swung sideways forcing his horse onto the inside of track. As a result his horse had struck a track marker which caused it to break and lose ground.

Stipendiary Steward Mrs Williams used video coverage to illustrate what had happened. Before the start Mr Jones horse was being held by a Starters assistant, with Mr Gray's horse being some distance behind, but close to the marker line. Just prior to the start Mr Gray's horse moved forward and when the barrier was released he was within about ? a length of Mr Jones horse.

Mr McIntyre said that because of the interference Mr Gray's horse had lost about 5 lengths, and at the finish the official margin between 3^rd and 4^th was .6 of a length. Relegation of "Blast For Me" to 4^th place was being sought.

Mr Jones gave evidence and contended that the cause of the incident was the way that the race started, with Mr Gray's horse not being up to its proper mark. Mr Jones did not dispute that his horse had swung sideways or that there had been interference. Mr Jones also said that after the start Mr Gray's horse had every chance to beat his horse.

After seeing the video coverage, and after hearing the evidence, I was satisfied that there had been interference by "Blast For Me" to "Van The Man".

In particular I was satisfied that "Blast For Me" had swung sideways and had pushed "Van The Man" inside the marker line. This led to "Van The Man" breaking from its gait and losing 4 ? 5 lengths. I did not accept Mr Jones submission that the interference had no effect on the result. "Van The Man" clearly lost 4 ? 5 lengths because of the interference.

For all the above reasons the protest was upheld and "Blast For Me" was relegated to 4^th place. The amended places are as follows.

1^st ? Zipp The Pocket (8)

2^nd ? Star Of Speed (6)

3^rd ? Van The Man (1)

4^th ? Blast For Me (2)

5^th ? Livmaro (5)

6^th ? Bowencourt (10)

JM Phelan

Chairman

sumissionsforpenalty:

reasonsforpenalty:

penalty:

hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 869.8

Informant:

JockeysandTrainer:

Otherperson:

PersonPresent:

Respondent:

StipendSteward:

raceid: e336503e9051a908d764d3d7b7044d9f

race_expapproval:

racecancelled: 0

race_noreport: 0

race_emailed1: 0

race_emailed2: 0

race_title: Race 2

submittochair:

race_expappcomment:

race_km:

race_otherexp:

race_chair:

race_pm1:

race_pm2:

meetid: 180c9faecf28338d2ee33e9c4d153a34

meet_expapproval:

meet_noreport: 0

waitingforpublication: 0

meet_emailed1: 0

meet_emailed2: 0

meetdate: 27/02/2007

meet_title: NZ Metro TC - 27 February 2007

meet_expappcomment:

meet_km:

meet_otherexp:

tracklocation: nz-metro-tc

meet_racingtype: harness-racing

meet_chair:

meet_pm1:

meet_pm2:

name: NZ Metro TC