Western Fair Winner Takes Shortest Route
The final race from the Tuesday, October 28 live card at Western Fair Raceway was the scene of a horse taking a unique route to the winner's circle.
On the final turn and for a large majority of the stretch, Dream Well, a four-year-old Dream Away gelding driven by Don McElroy, consecutively paced on the inside of numerous pylons. The duo eventually came back onto the correct side of the pylons just prior to the finish line, which they crossed first in a time of 2:00.
After a judges' inquiry, McElroy and the Mike Watson-trained gelding were left up as the race's official winner.
Dream Well began the race from Post 1 and had been sent off as the 1-5 post time choice. The pacesetter in the race, Greystone Dylan, went straight to the lead from the outset after being sent off at odds of 47-1 -- the longest shot in the eight-horse field.
After briefly considering a brush to the lead, McElroy opted to drop Dream Wall in the pocket behind Greystone Dylan. McElroy eventually got locked in with his mount and appeared to have trouble controlling the gelding, who looked to be full of pace.
McElroy eventually took Dream Wall to inside the pylons along the final turn -- presumably for the safety of the rest of the field. Late in the stretch, after having been inside multiple consecutive pylons, Dream Wall came back onto the correct side of the pylons and hit the wire first.
This morning, Trot Insider contacted the Ontario Racing Commission for comment on the race, but nobody was available for comment at that time.
To view the charted results from the Tuesday card at Western Fair, click here.
Well, it looks like I won't
Well, it looks like I won't waste any money betting Western Fair, then.
what the heck is a 47 to 1
what the heck is a 47 to 1 shot doing sitting on the front anyway?
its quite simple to figure
its quite simple to figure out you got beat off the gate by along shot then you get locked in no were to go you are driving a one to five looks fishy big mac did the rite thing to simply prove this horse was the best an he wasnt involed in no hanky panky.
Has there been a ruling on
Has there been a ruling on this? I sure would like to know what happened. Me and many other horsemen I'm sure!!!
The term they like to use
The term they like to use down here in the states when a horse gets disqualified for putting a wheel inside a couple of pylons is "gaining an unfair advantage". The only bigger advantage this horse could have had is if he had started in front of the starting gate. He was closer to the infield then he was to being back on the track. Hopefully these judges were suspended from their job or fined like a driver would be for an infraction that occurred during a race. Funny, I haven't read any follow up to this race. Did the racing commission do any kind of investigation?
I agree that a precident has
I agree that a precident has been set, weather he was going to the pylons for "safety reasons" or not it is ridiculous that he was left as the winner, even Frank Salive called the horse who ran second as the winner when they crossed the line.
In reply to I agree that a precident has by Colin McCormick (not verified)
Same thing happened this
Same thing happened this fall at Georgion Downs and the horse was left up. Think how I felt as a bettor who thought he had a nice exactor and got nothing. I was not pleased.
This has to be the most
This has to be the most surprising ruling in the history of harness racing. I think that everyone would just like an explanation of why Dream Well was allowed to win the race. Maybe the judges did have a good reason for making this ruling (although I can't imagine what that reason would be).
- When watching a football game, the officials turn on their microphone and announce to everyone why they are making their ruling and they also clarify exactly what the rule is. Some harness tracks also do this while showing a video replay of the infraction. That type of explanation is certainly warranted here.
- McElroy himself must have been the most surprised person at Western Fair that night. He must have had his reasons for driving inside the pylons (it may have been safety) - but I can't think of any reason why he would then be allowed to still win the race. Even if the horse in front of you falls down and you steer inside the pylons to avoid him - you shouldn't be allowed to win the race.
Can the ORC please just explain to everyone why this ruling was made?
Who were the judges for this
Who were the judges for this program? Racing at his local track, it sure seems again, like a case of "the old boys club", with different rules for different people.
Integrity starts at the top.
Integrity starts at the top. The public needs a full accounting of disciplinary measures taken against this panel of judges.
The ORC loves to broadcast their rulings on horsemen...they need to deal with this in a transparent way. Otherwise we will always have trouble taking them seriously
I witnessed this race and
I witnessed this race and feel McElroy should not have been allowed to win the race. The horse was inside many pylons and in all the years I have been going to the races, this has been illegal.
You have now set a precedent that anyone who cannot keep control of their horse can go off the track, inside the pylons, to regain control and will be allowed to win.
The result of this race is considered a "joke" by a large number of race patrons (regular race patrons). If this is the way the judging is going in racing, it is no wonder everyone feels the sport is not legitimate. Several people who witnessed this particular race are very very upset, me being one of them.
Something needs to be done to keep this sport in good standing with the public. The fact they are calling it a safety issue seems like a cop-out.
How could no one be
How could no one be available for comment ! This is the most ridiculuos
ruling for racing I have ever seen. To protect the integrity of racing
these people should be issuing their reason for this. I do not know of horseman
I talked with can understand how this horse was declared the winner !