There was a Judges Inquiry in the eighth race at Flamboro Downs on August 6, 2010

that dealt with a possible pylon violation in the first turn by the unofficial winner, #2 Were Rolling. (click here for the chart)

The Judges referred to ORC Rule 18:08.02 for the Inquiry.

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.”

As the field races into the first turn, #2 Were Rolling bears down inside two consecutive pylons and then returns to the racing strip. The pylon rule states that any horse that races inside two consecutive pylons must be placed behind any lapped on horses. The Judges viewed the photo finish strip and determined that #2 Were Rolling was lapped only by #4 Zorqwijk Fortunate (J.R. Plante).

The Judges ruled that #2 Were Rolling was not forced inside the pylons by any other horse and was therefore in violation of ORC Rule 18:08.02. As a result, #2 Were Rolling finished unofficially first and was placed second for violating the pylon rule.

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