This week’s ORC feature From The Stand will recap a race from Grand River Raceway and Flamboro
Downs.
Grand River Raceway – July 7/10, Race 8 (click here for the chart)
There was a Judges Inquiry in Race 8 at Grand River Raceway on July 7/10 that looked at two possible pylon violations in the first turn. The Judges looked at possible violations by #1 Pride Of Dilinger (Doug McNair), the unofficial winner, and #9 Me Go Fast (Anthony MacDonald), the unofficial fourth-place finisher.
The Judges referred to ORC Rule 18:08.02 while reviewing the Inquiry tape.
ORC Rule 18:08.02 reads, “if, at a racetrack which does not have a continuous solid hub rail, a horse while on stride or part of the horse’s sulky leaves the course by going inside the hub rail or other demarcation which constitutes the inside limits of the course, the offending horse shall be placed back where, in the opinion of the Judges, the action gave the horse an unfair advantage over other horses in the race, or the action helped the horse improve its position in the race. In addition, when an act of interference causes a horse or part of the horse’s sulky to cross the inside limits of the course, and the horse is placed by the Judges, the offending horse shall be placed behind the horse with which it interfered. Drivers, who in the opinion of the Judges, leave the racing strip when not forced to do so as a result of the actions of another driver and/or horse may be fined or suspended by the Judges.”
The Judges viewed the pan, front, back, and low pan shots for the inquiry, all of which are available below.
Using the pan shot, #1 Pride Of Dilinger can be found as the second horse along the rail, with #9 Me Go Fast following as the third horse along the rail. The Judges determined that #1 Pride Of Dilinger was inside 1 pylon around the first turn and overtop the base of the next pylon. In doing so, the Judges ruled that #1 Pride Of Dilinger did not gain any unfair advantage by improving her position on another horse in the race. The Judges next ruled that #9 Me Go Fast was inside 2 consecutive pylons and then also overtop the base of the next pylon. #9 Me Go Fast was not lapped by any other horses and, in the opinion of the Judges, did not gain any unfair advantage by improving her position on another horse in the race.
As a result of the above rulings, the Judges found neither #1 Pride Of Dilinger or #9 Me Go Fast to be in violation of ORC Rule 18:08.02 and the race was made official as posted.
Flamboro Downs – June 19/10, Race 12 (click here for the chart)
A Judges Inquiry took place in Race 12 at Flamboro Downs on June 19/10 that dealt with a possible interference violation by #1 Four Starzz Meliss (Jason Brewer) at the top of the stretch. Four Starzz Meliss was the unofficial third-place finisher.
The Judges used ORC Rules 22:05.01(a) and 22:09 while dealing with the inquiry.
ORC Rule 22:05.01 reads:
“A driver shall not commit any of the following acts which are considered violations of driving rules: -
1. Change course or position, or swerve in or out, or bear in or out during any part of the race in such a manner as to compel a horse to shorten its stride or cause another driver to change course, take his or her horse back, or pull his or her horse out of its stride.
ORC Rule 22:09 states:
“In the case of interference, collision, or violation of any rules, the offending horse may be placed back one or more positions in that heat or dash, and in the event of such collisions, interference or violation preventing any horse from finishing the heat or dash, the offending horse may be disqualified from receiving any winnings and the driver may be fined or suspended. If a horse is set back, it must be placed behind the horse with which it interfered. If an offending horse has interfered with a horse involved in a dead heat and the offending horse is set back, it must be placed behind the horses in the dead heat.”
The Judged viewed the pan and front tower shots for the inquiry.
Using the video above, #1 Four Starzz Meliss can be found sitting in the two-hole at the top of the stretch. As the field straightens out down the stretch, the pan shot shows that #1 Four Starzz Meliss bears out into the middle of the track. As seen in the front tower, #1 Four Starzz Meliss is in approximately the two-wide lane, but finishes approximately in the four-wide lane. As she bears out, the Judges ruled #1 Four Starzz Meliss causes interference to #7 Fred And Ginger (Mark MacDonald), who then in turns interferes with #8 Dreamfair Eternal (Randy Waples).
#7 Fred And Ginger finished unofficially fifth while #8 Dreamfair Eternal was second. As the bolded section of ORC Rule 22:09 states above, #1 Four Starzz Meliss must be placed behind #7 Fred And Ginger.
As a result, #1 Four Starzz Meliss finished second and was placed fifth for causing interference in the stretch, as per ORC Rule 22:05.01(a). Both #7 Fred And Ginger and #8 Dreamfair Eternal were chartered with interference (i) in the stretch.
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