A Judges Inquiry took place during the eleventh race at Mohawk Racetrack on July 24, 2010 that dealt with a possible interference violation
by #8 Charter Flight (Jack Moiseyev) in the stretch. #8 Charter Flight was the unofficial winner. (click here for the chart)
The Judges referred to ORC Rules 22:05.01(a) and 22:09 during the Inquiry.
ORC Rule 22:05.01 reads:
“A driver shall not commit any of the following acts which are considered violations of driving rules: -
(a) Change course or position, or swerve in or out, or bear in or out during any part of the race in such a manner as to compel a horse to shorten its stride or cause another driver to change course, take his or her horse back, or pull his or her horse out of its stride.”
ORC Rule 22:09 states:
“In the case of interference, collision, or violation of any rules, the offending horse may be placed back one or more positions in that heat or dash, and in the event of such collisions, interference or violation preventing any horse from finishing the heat or dash, the offending horse may be disqualified from receiving any winnings and the driver may be fined or suspended. If a horse is set back, it must be placed behind the horse with which it interfered. If an offending horse has interfered with a horse involved in a dead heat and the offending horse is set back, it must be placed behind the horses in the dead heat.”
The Judges used the pan shot while reviewing the stretch drive and Inquiry tape.
Coming into the stretch, #8 Charter Flight can be found as the third horse along the pylons. Through the stretch Moiseyev angles her off the pylons and positions her on the helmet of Rick Zeron (#5 Smashbox) for a brief moment. At this time, #4 Thrillionaire (Mario Baillargeon) is racing to the outside of #8 Charter Flight. When Moiseyev moves his mare off cover, the Judges ruled that #8 Charter Flight changed course without clearance and interfered with #4 Thrillionaire, causing her to go off stride.
The Judges determined that #8 Charter Flight was in violation of ORC Rule 22:05.01 (a) for causing interference in the stretch. As ORC Rule 22:09 states, #8 Charter Flight must be placed behind #4 Thrillionaire. As a result, #8 Charter Flight was placed from first to eighth.
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