Updated: Pierce Suspended 10 Days For Whipping Violation

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Published: October 1, 2009 01:05 pm EDT

Trot Insider spoke with driver Ron Pierce today after he was handed a 10-day suspension from presiding race stewards at the Red Mile due to a violation of the whipping rule on Tuesday, September 29 during Costa Rica's second-place finish in the Bluegrass Stakes

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The judges did not issue the ruling because of excessive whipping. The judges issued the ruling because Pierce violated the one-handed whipping rule.

Pierce and Costa Rica were sent off as the heavy favourites in the dash. The pair were bet down to five cents on the dollar at post time. Costa Rica, who is trained by Jimmy Takter, cut all the fractions from Post 5, but was beat by a 40-1 shot, Croquet Style, which came from off the pace to record a three-quarters of one length victory over Pierce and Costa Rica in 1:57.2.

Pierce's suspension is scheduled to start Sunday, October 4, which means that the pilot could miss the second week of Grand Circuit racing at the Red Mile.

Trot Insider spoke with Ron Pierce between races this afternoon, and the driver said that he is unable to make any comments on the record regarding the situation at this time due to the fact that the ruling is currently under appeal.

"Kentucky Horse Racing Commission rules prohibit one-handed whipping," Rich Williams, presiding judge at the Red Mile, told Trot Insider this afternoon. "In the ninth race on Tuesday, September 29, driver Ron Pierce did place both of his horse's lines into one hand and use the whip on his horse."

Williams explained to Trot Insider that Pierce did not use the whip in an excessive manner on the horse. Williams said that the penalty for the first violation of the rule is a 10-day suspension.

On September 14 at Mohawk Racetrack, Pierce and Costa Rica were placed first after having finished second in an elimination for the Peaceful Way Stakes. The pair were placed first because driver Trevor Ritchie and Angostura were disqualified after winning the race due to Ritchie having violated a similar rule which had been recently instituted by the Ontario Racing Commission.

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Ritchie Comments On Angostura Placing
Favourites Score In Peaceful Way Elims

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