After receiving a few inquiries surrounding the issue of a horse losing a shoe in a race, the Ontario Racing Commission Judges addressed the topic at the recently concluded Judges' Meetings last week
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Effective immediately, any horse that loses a shoe in the race and has it immediately reported to either the Starter, Paddock Judge or Equipment Inspector will be charted as finishing with broken equipment (BE). If a horse loses a shoe in the race and that causes them to make a break, the horse will be awarded an equipment break (EX) on the chart line. However, if the horse makes a break and then loses a shoe, it will be charted with a normal break and finishing with BE.
If the Judges can determine that a horse loses a shoe before the start of the race, this will be considered as suffering broken equipment before the start and the horse will be refunded for pari-mutuel purposes.
I agree 100% with Mr. Sindori
I agree 100% with Mr. Sindori
Finally some sanity. Now if
Finally some sanity. Now if they could only move the "fair start" pole to 2 lengths from the starting gate where it belongs and in effect was years ago!!
Losing a shoe before a race
Losing a shoe before a race can be a refund? Is it just me or is it everybody else who are losing their minds? Why not refund if a horse makes a break due to bad judgement or incompetent driving before the start? Can a driver be considered part of the equipment? Why not refund if a horse's blood was slightly off before a race? Can a trainer be considered part of the equipment? Why not refund if a horse is "rapidity challenged" and was not competitive enough to win the race. Should the racing secretary be considered part of the equipment?
I have seen instances where only two horses finished a race, and yet triactors were not refunded, but we refund bets for losing a shoe.
There have been quite a few refunds for fair start pole violations, and now bettors expect a driver to take a death grip on a horse who is off the gate early, making for more animosity towards drivers who try to catch the field. Moreover, this has to be affecting the handles that have been going south. Speaking of going south; when betting on USA racing, there is no refund, but no one seems to complain.