Connections of a horse that was interfered with in a race and subsequently finished last have been awarded third-place purse money due to a new rule which came into effect down under this past summer.
An article on the situation by stuff.co.nz explains that the race recently took place at the Gore Raceway in Invercargill, New Zealand.
The report states that in the Nevele R Stud Fillies and Mares Pace, a Standardbred by the name of Guggenheim was closing three-wide on the final turn when the horse that was two-wide, Rockahula Arden, shifted out after having its earplugs deployed.
As a result, Guggenheim broke stride and was taken out of the race. Rockahula Arden ended up finishing second.
The article explains that Guggenheim’s connections called on a new August 9 rule that gives a judicial committee the power to order the connections of the interfering horse (in this case, Rockahula Arden) to pay a part or all of the purse monies earned in the race to the affected horse (in this case, Guggenheim).
Under the rule, 869A(4), the scenario regarding the purse-earnings swap only takes place if the committee determines that the interfering horse denied the affected horse a chance for a higher finishing position.
The report states that the committee ruled in favour of the connections of Guggenheim, and therefore the connections of Rockahula Arden were ordered to pay Guggenheim’s connections $475.
(With files from the stuff.co.nz)