The Ontario Racing Commission and the Standardbred Canada website today launch the weekly ORC Judges' feature, From The Stand
.
Today's feature explains a "lapped-on break."
Kawartha Downs – Tuesday, February 16, 2010 – Race 5
In Race 5 at Kawartha Downs on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, the horse #1 Designed By Hall, driven by Doug Hie, finished 6th and was off stride at the finish.
As 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 inside 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.”
Since the break of Designed By Hall was not caused by any interference, the Judges placed Designed By Hall from 6th to 8th for a double lapped on break. This decision was made because #4 Hansen and #8 Cajafyler were lapped on the hind quarter of Designed By Hall at the finish, as the photo finish strip shows, while he was still off stride.
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