Taranaki TR 24 December 2011 – R 3 (instigating a protest)
ID: JCA14470
Code:
Thoroughbred
Meet Title:
Taranaki RC - 24 December 2011
Meet Chair:
ISmith
Meet Committee Member 1:
PWilliams
Race Date:
2011/12/24
Race Number:
R 3
Decision:
The Committee believes there needs to be a greater degree of certainty when considering a protest involving 4th against 2nd than if, say, the protest was 4th against 3rd. This is even more so in this case where the margins from 2nd to 4th were a nose and 1¾ lengths. It is very clear that with approximately 100m to run “McLaren” (Ms R Myers) in moving sharply outwards took the rightful running line of “Princess Katie” (M Sweeney) forcing that horse to be severely checked and lose at least two lengths in the incident. The Committee believes that prior to the incident the Mr Sweeney’s mount was making up considerable ground at speed when he was abruptly stopped and that had such interference not occurred “Princess Katie” would have finished ahead of “McLaren”.
The Committee’s decision is that the protest is upheld.
Amended placings are:
7 Dancing Dee
5 La Muchacha
8 Princess Katie
4 McLaren
3 Informant
1 Ashburn Lane
The committee authorises payment of all dividends and stake monies based on the revised placings above.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 3 Mr M Sweeney (Princess Katie) who finished 4th lodged a protest against Ms R Myers (McLaren) who finished 2nd under Rule 642(1) alleging interference in the home straight. The Rule was read and confirmed and understood by all parties.
The margins were:- a head, a nose, 1¾ lengths and the placings were:-
1st – 7 Dancing Dee
2nd – 4 McLaren
3rd – 5 La Muchacha
4th – 8 Princess Katie
5th – 3 Informant
6th – 1 Ashburn Lane
Submissions for Decision:
Using the films available Mr Sweeney said he had a very easy trail throughout the race after drawing barrier 1 and he had never asked his horse for an effort because it was travelling so well. About three quarters of the way down the home straight a gap presented itself giving him an opportunity to go forward. He said at this stage he was sure he was the winner of the race as there was a clear gap and his horse was accelerating forward very easily at this point. He said as he started to move into the gap on the outside of Ms R Myers she moved out taking his line of racing with the resultant check forcing him to take an abrupt hold of his mount. He said the interference by Ms R Myers had forced him from a position of 1 out to a position closer to the middle of the track. He said after receiving the check his horse had then picked itself up and got up to finish fourth and but for the check it received it would clearly have won the race. Mr Sweeney said his horse had won twice before after trailing and being held up until the last 100-150m before racing away to win the race. Mr Sweeney, when asked, said he believed the check had cost him at least 2 lengths.
Mr Neaves supported Mr Sweeney’s comments adding in his opinion “Princess Katie” has been taken outwards by 3 to 4 horse widths culminating in the check to “Princess Katie”.
Ms R Myers questioned Mr Sweeney as to whether he had received pressure from his outside forcing him in. Mr Sweeney replied he did not.
Ms R Myers admitted her mount had hung out up the straight and as the films showed there was a gap for Mr Sweeney which had closed as she had moved out. She said she was unaware Mr Sweeney was attempting to move up on her outer and agreed she had caused the check.
Ms Weller stated the outward movement of “McLaren was gradual rather than sudden.
Stipendiary Steward Mr R Neal stated Mr Sweeney’s mount was held up at the top of the home straight and eventually a gap did open for him at approximately the 200m mark. He said Mr Sweeney was attempting to find clear room and the outwards movement of Ms Myers had taken his rightful running line. He said Ms Myers’ outward movement was initially gradual over a considerable distance with her horse having been under a hard ride prior to the incident. He said it was clear when Mr Sweeney moved into the gap he looked to be making reasonable ground on R Myers mount. Mr Neal said that while the margin of 1¾ lengths and a nose to Ms R Myers may seem a lot the margins were distorted because Mr Sweeney had to abruptly restrain his horse near the 100m mark when Ms Myers’ outward movement became more pronounced. He said the Stewards were of the opinion that the ground being made by Mr Sweeney at the time of the incident was not inconsiderable and he did appear to be running home quite well and it was quite within the realms of possibility that he would have beaten Ms Myers home at the end of the race. Mr Neal said the severe check received by Mr Sweeney had occurred approximately 100m from the finish and at that point Mr Sweeney’s mount was strongly making ground prior to being abruptly stopped.
Mr Sweeney in summarizing stated he not only had to stop riding but he had to take a hold of his mount. He said he was just starting to fly home and taking into account the final margins, if not stopped, he would have won the race.
Reasons for Decision:
After hearing all the evidence and extensively reviewing all the available films, the committee are satisfied that Ms R Myers mount has moved outward over a considerable distance in the home straight whilst under a hard ride including being ridden with the whip while attempting to maintain her position at the front of the field. At approximately the 100m mark Mr Sweeney when moving up on the outside of Ms Myers was stopped abruptly in his tracks by the sudden further outward movement of Ms R Myers who ended up directly in front of Mr Sweeney. Mr Sweeney who was finishing very strongly at that point was clearly seen to lose his forward momentum and then had to rebalance before running on again into 4th position.
JCA Decision Fields (raw)
Dmitry: This section contains all JCA fields migrated from the raw data.
Data from these fields should be mapped appropriately to display amongst the standard fields above; please make note of any values below that are missing in the above standard fields but should be there.
hearingid: 875efe7cebebd0147346482ac1f63856
informantnumber: A3008
horsename: MCLAREN
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge:
plea:
penaltyrequired:
decisiondate: 20/12/2011
hearing_title: Taranaki TR 24 December 2011 - R 3 (instigating a protest)
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 3 Mr M Sweeney (Princess Katie) who finished 4th lodged a protest against Ms R Myers (McLaren) who finished 2nd under Rule 642(1) alleging interference in the home straight. The Rule was read and confirmed and understood by all parties.
The margins were:- a head, a nose, 1¾ lengths and the placings were:-
1st – 7 Dancing Dee
2nd – 4 McLaren
3rd – 5 La Muchacha
4th – 8 Princess Katie
5th – 3 Informant
6th – 1 Ashburn Lane
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
Using the films available Mr Sweeney said he had a very easy trail throughout the race after drawing barrier 1 and he had never asked his horse for an effort because it was travelling so well. About three quarters of the way down the home straight a gap presented itself giving him an opportunity to go forward. He said at this stage he was sure he was the winner of the race as there was a clear gap and his horse was accelerating forward very easily at this point. He said as he started to move into the gap on the outside of Ms R Myers she moved out taking his line of racing with the resultant check forcing him to take an abrupt hold of his mount. He said the interference by Ms R Myers had forced him from a position of 1 out to a position closer to the middle of the track. He said after receiving the check his horse had then picked itself up and got up to finish fourth and but for the check it received it would clearly have won the race. Mr Sweeney said his horse had won twice before after trailing and being held up until the last 100-150m before racing away to win the race. Mr Sweeney, when asked, said he believed the check had cost him at least 2 lengths.
Mr Neaves supported Mr Sweeney’s comments adding in his opinion “Princess Katie” has been taken outwards by 3 to 4 horse widths culminating in the check to “Princess Katie”.
Ms R Myers questioned Mr Sweeney as to whether he had received pressure from his outside forcing him in. Mr Sweeney replied he did not.
Ms R Myers admitted her mount had hung out up the straight and as the films showed there was a gap for Mr Sweeney which had closed as she had moved out. She said she was unaware Mr Sweeney was attempting to move up on her outer and agreed she had caused the check.
Ms Weller stated the outward movement of “McLaren was gradual rather than sudden.
Stipendiary Steward Mr R Neal stated Mr Sweeney’s mount was held up at the top of the home straight and eventually a gap did open for him at approximately the 200m mark. He said Mr Sweeney was attempting to find clear room and the outwards movement of Ms Myers had taken his rightful running line. He said Ms Myers’ outward movement was initially gradual over a considerable distance with her horse having been under a hard ride prior to the incident. He said it was clear when Mr Sweeney moved into the gap he looked to be making reasonable ground on R Myers mount. Mr Neal said that while the margin of 1¾ lengths and a nose to Ms R Myers may seem a lot the margins were distorted because Mr Sweeney had to abruptly restrain his horse near the 100m mark when Ms Myers’ outward movement became more pronounced. He said the Stewards were of the opinion that the ground being made by Mr Sweeney at the time of the incident was not inconsiderable and he did appear to be running home quite well and it was quite within the realms of possibility that he would have beaten Ms Myers home at the end of the race. Mr Neal said the severe check received by Mr Sweeney had occurred approximately 100m from the finish and at that point Mr Sweeney’s mount was strongly making ground prior to being abruptly stopped.
Mr Sweeney in summarizing stated he not only had to stop riding but he had to take a hold of his mount. He said he was just starting to fly home and taking into account the final margins, if not stopped, he would have won the race.
reasonsfordecision:
After hearing all the evidence and extensively reviewing all the available films, the committee are satisfied that Ms R Myers mount has moved outward over a considerable distance in the home straight whilst under a hard ride including being ridden with the whip while attempting to maintain her position at the front of the field. At approximately the 100m mark Mr Sweeney when moving up on the outside of Ms Myers was stopped abruptly in his tracks by the sudden further outward movement of Ms R Myers who ended up directly in front of Mr Sweeney. Mr Sweeney who was finishing very strongly at that point was clearly seen to lose his forward momentum and then had to rebalance before running on again into 4th position.
Decision:
The Committee believes there needs to be a greater degree of certainty when considering a protest involving 4th against 2nd than if, say, the protest was 4th against 3rd. This is even more so in this case where the margins from 2nd to 4th were a nose and 1¾ lengths. It is very clear that with approximately 100m to run “McLaren” (Ms R Myers) in moving sharply outwards took the rightful running line of “Princess Katie” (M Sweeney) forcing that horse to be severely checked and lose at least two lengths in the incident. The Committee believes that prior to the incident the Mr Sweeney’s mount was making up considerable ground at speed when he was abruptly stopped and that had such interference not occurred “Princess Katie” would have finished ahead of “McLaren”.
The Committee’s decision is that the protest is upheld.
Amended placings are:
7 Dancing Dee
5 La Muchacha
8 Princess Katie
4 McLaren
3 Informant
1 Ashburn Lane
The committee authorises payment of all dividends and stake monies based on the revised placings above.
sumissionsforpenalty:
reasonsforpenalty:
penalty:
hearing_type: Protest
Rules: 642(1)
Informant: Mr M Sweeney - Licensed Jockey Rider of PRINCESS KATIE
JockeysandTrainer:
Otherperson:
PersonPresent: Ms R Myers - Rider of MCLAREN, Mr A Neaves - Representing K Gray - Trainer, Mr R Neal - Stipendiary Steward, Mr N Goodwin - Stipendiary Steward
Respondent: Ms H Weller - Licensed Trainer of MCLAREN
StipendSteward:
raceid: e47e0d5ad2ea60e2192bcabadf2fdce6
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R 3
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: 53891954b1764029712dd3be24f45827
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 0
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 24/12/2011
meet_title: Taranaki RC - 24 December 2011
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: taranaki-rc
meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing
meet_chair: ISmith
meet_pm1: PWilliams
meet_pm2: none
name: Taranaki RC