This week the Ontario Racing Commission Judges and the SC website provide insight on how the judges approach and deal with passing lane pylon inquiries in the weekly feature
, From The Stand.
Flamboro Downs – Wednesday, January 13, 2010 – Race 12
A Judges Inquiry took place in Race 12 at Flamboro Downs on January 13, 2010, concerning a possible passing lane and pylon violation by the #8 Jackies Dream, driven by Paul MacKenzie. The Judges refereed to ORC Rules 18:08.02 and 22:05.02.2(iii) when reviewing the Inquiry tape.
ORC Rule 18:08.02 reads, “If, at a racetrack which does not have a continuous solid inside 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.”
ORC Rule 22:05.02.2(iii) reads, “horses using the open stretch must first have complete clearance of the pylons.”
As the front tower shot shows, Jackies Dream was inside the first passing lane pylon and therefore did not have complete clearance of the passing lane as ORC Rule 22:05.02.2(iii) states. In accordance with ORC Rule 18:08.02, it was the Judges opinion that going inside that pylon gave Jackies Dream an unfair advantage over #6 Wortherweightnoats, driven by Scott Coulter. As a result of this violation, Jackies Dream finished 2nd and was placed 6th for a violation of the above rules.
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