Archive Decision

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Timaru HRC 14 October 2012 -R 1 (request for a ruling)

ID: JCA10889

Stipend Steward:
Mr N. M. Ydgren - Stipendiary Steward

Hearing Type:
Request Ruling

Rules:
Rules 213(1)(j) and 1112

Meet Title:
Timaru HRC - 14 October 2012

Meet Chair:
JPhelan

Meet Committee Member 1:
JMillar

Race Date:
2012/10/14

Race Number:
R1

Decision:

On resuming the hearing Race 2 was about to start and the parties were informed that full reasons would be given in our written decision, as set out above. We ruled that CANDY STYX had not been denied a fair start, that the Judge’s placings stood, and that dividends should be paid accordingly.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 1, the Speights Mobil Pace, an Information requesting a ruling was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr N. M. Ydgren on behalf of the connections of CANDY STYX (3). The Request for a Ruling was made pursuant to Rule 213(1)(j) as to whether CANDY STYX had been denied a fair start.

The Information reads as follows:-

“I the above named informant seek a ruling in relation to Rule 213(1)(j) from the Judicial Committee – to determine whether Candy Styx was denied a fair start.”

Rule 213(1)(j) reads as follows.
“(1) A Stipendiary Steward at any time may scratch from a race or declare ineligible to start in a race until a specific condition is met any horse on all or any of the following grounds:-
(j) if a horse is denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse.”

Submissions for Decision:

Mr Ydgren firstly explained that this request was made on behalf of the connections of CANDY STYX. Mr Ydgren used video coverage taken from various angles to show that CANDY STYX had drawn (3) on the front line of this 2600 metre mobile start race. A short distance after the race started CANDY STYX broke and lost considerable ground.

Messrs Murtha and Dolan gave evidence and used video coverage to show that prior to the start CANDY STYX had difficulty in coming up to the barrier arm. It had to be manoeuvred around the other starters, and in doing so struck a wheel and broke briefly, but this was some distance before the start of the race. At the start it was submitted that CANDY STYX was unsettled and about a length back from the barrier arm. These circumstances had combined, it was alleged, to cause CANDY STYX to break shortly after the start and lose its chance.

We adjourned to consider our decision.

Reasons for Decision:

We were satisfied that CANDY STYX did have some difficulties prior to the start, but by the time the race did start, it had assumed its position behind the barrier, albeit a little bit back from it. The video coverage showed that it had a clear run through, and that it had broken from its gait some distance after the start.

It is also relevant that not all horses are able to maintain a position close up to the barrier arm at the time a race is started. It is up to the starter to assess whether or not horses have been given a fair opportunity to be in line when he starts the race. In this case we found nothing exceptional in connection with this particular start, or the position that CANDY STYX was in.

In our view there was no evidence that CANDY STYX had been denied a fair start.

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: 0df8bbe18d177edf38209364491f8429


informantnumber:


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge:


plea:


penaltyrequired:


decisiondate: 04/10/2012


hearing_title: Timaru HRC 14 October 2012 -R 1 (request for a ruling)


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 1, the Speights Mobil Pace, an Information requesting a ruling was filed by Stipendiary Steward Mr N. M. Ydgren on behalf of the connections of CANDY STYX (3). The Request for a Ruling was made pursuant to Rule 213(1)(j) as to whether CANDY STYX had been denied a fair start.

The Information reads as follows:-

“I the above named informant seek a ruling in relation to Rule 213(1)(j) from the Judicial Committee – to determine whether Candy Styx was denied a fair start.”

Rule 213(1)(j) reads as follows.
“(1) A Stipendiary Steward at any time may scratch from a race or declare ineligible to start in a race until a specific condition is met any horse on all or any of the following grounds:-
(j) if a horse is denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse.”


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:

Mr Ydgren firstly explained that this request was made on behalf of the connections of CANDY STYX. Mr Ydgren used video coverage taken from various angles to show that CANDY STYX had drawn (3) on the front line of this 2600 metre mobile start race. A short distance after the race started CANDY STYX broke and lost considerable ground.

Messrs Murtha and Dolan gave evidence and used video coverage to show that prior to the start CANDY STYX had difficulty in coming up to the barrier arm. It had to be manoeuvred around the other starters, and in doing so struck a wheel and broke briefly, but this was some distance before the start of the race. At the start it was submitted that CANDY STYX was unsettled and about a length back from the barrier arm. These circumstances had combined, it was alleged, to cause CANDY STYX to break shortly after the start and lose its chance.

We adjourned to consider our decision.


reasonsfordecision:

We were satisfied that CANDY STYX did have some difficulties prior to the start, but by the time the race did start, it had assumed its position behind the barrier, albeit a little bit back from it. The video coverage showed that it had a clear run through, and that it had broken from its gait some distance after the start.

It is also relevant that not all horses are able to maintain a position close up to the barrier arm at the time a race is started. It is up to the starter to assess whether or not horses have been given a fair opportunity to be in line when he starts the race. In this case we found nothing exceptional in connection with this particular start, or the position that CANDY STYX was in.

In our view there was no evidence that CANDY STYX had been denied a fair start.


Decision:

On resuming the hearing Race 2 was about to start and the parties were informed that full reasons would be given in our written decision, as set out above. We ruled that CANDY STYX had not been denied a fair start, that the Judge’s placings stood, and that dividends should be paid accordingly.


sumissionsforpenalty:


reasonsforpenalty:


penalty:


hearing_type: Request Ruling


Rules: Rules 213(1)(j) and 1112


Informant:


JockeysandTrainer:


Otherperson:


PersonPresent: Mr S. P. Murtha - Advanced Amateur Driver, Mr S. A. Dolan - Licensed Trainer


Respondent:


StipendSteward: Mr N. M. Ydgren - Stipendiary Steward


raceid: e246c9d5bc5dc7fd2cdbc6b7d865ccc0


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R1


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 940c0ec649e0a5a329d71586b95bc470


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 14/10/2012


meet_title: Timaru HRC - 14 October 2012


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: timaru-hrc


meet_racingtype: harness-racing


meet_chair: JPhelan


meet_pm1: JMillar


meet_pm2: none


name: Timaru HRC