A Judges Inquiry took place during the second race at Grand River Raceway on August 27, 2010
that dealt with a break in stride by #5 Handsome Yankee (Chris Beaver) at the half. #5 Handsome Yankee was the unofficial first-place finisher. (click here for the chart)
The Judges referred to ORC Rules 22:27 and 22:09 when assessing the break by #5 Handsome Yankee.
ORC Rule 22:27 reads:
“When a horse breaks from its gait in a race the driver shall: (a) take the horse to the inside or outside of other horses where clearance exists; (b) properly attempt to pull the horse to its gait; and (c) continuously lose ground while on the break. If there has been no violation of (a), (b) or (c) above, the horse shall not be set back unless a contending horse on its gait is lapped on the hind quarter of the breaking horse at the finish, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, if interference caused by another driver(s) or horse(s) has caused the horse to be on a break at the finish, the Judges may, in their discretion, determine not to set the horse back even if a contending horse on its gait is lapped on the hind quarter of the breaking horse at the finish.”
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 Judges used the pan and front tower shots for the Inquiry and the video tape is available below.
Using the pan shot, #5 Handsome Yankee can be found sitting in third for driver Chris Beaver before going off stride before the half. The Judges were trying to determine if #5 Handsome Yankee continuously lost ground while on a break or caused any interference to other horses in the race.
It was the opinion of the Judges that for the length of time #5 Handsome Yankee was off stride, she did not continuously lose sufficient ground. Also, from using the front tower, the Judges determined that #3 Rubaiyat (Bruce Richardson) and #6 Mvs Worthy Girl (Ryan Holliday) were both interfered with by #5 Handsome Yankee when she was attempting to get back on the race course, as both horses were forced to change course.
As a result of the interference, #5 Handsome Yankee must be placed behind both #3 Rubaiyat and #6 Mvs Worthy Girl, as the bolded section of ORC Rule 22:09 states. Therefore, #5 Handsome Yankee was first placed sixth for failing to continuously lose ground while on a break and causing interference while off stride.
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