Auckland TC 18 October 2024 – R6 (request for a ruling)

Following the running of Race 6, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr S Mulcay requested a Ruling by Information No. A14601, in that Race 6 was run over 1609 metres rather than the correct distance of 1700 metres.

Under Rule 1106(2) A Stipendiary Steward may file an Information in respect of a race on the grounds that:

(b) the race is run over the wrong distance

On determining the proceeding under this sub-rule, the Adjudicative Committee on determining the proceeding, may declare the race to be void and may direct that it be run again. Any decision of the Adjudicative Committee under this sub-rule is declared to be final.

Background

Mr Mulcay explained that the official race distance as approved by HRNZ and included in the official programme for race was 1700 metres. The incorrect distance (1609 metres) had been included in the Club’s Race Book. This error had not been detected in the normal pre meeting checking procedure by the Club or by the Stewards in their checking process on race night.

Mr Mulcay was clear that no blame could be attributed to the Starter, who picked up a race book on the race night. This race book included all scratching’s and Driver changes and the Starter would use the race distance in the race book as the official distance for the race.

Evidence

The Stewards played the start of the race from the score up, which showed the field had formed up behind the mobile at the candy pole, where they were required to be before the 1700 metre starting point. The field then held their positions past the 1700 metre point, where the start should have started, through to the 1609 metre point, where they were released by the Starter.

While observing the start of the race, Mr Mulcay had realised the error as the field were released and attempted to contact the Starter to call a false start, however the noise around the mobile barrier at the start, meant the Starter did not hear the call, so the false start was not called.

The Stewards considered that as no horse was disadvantaged at the start, placings should be authorised and the race allowed to stand.

There were no recent instances of requests for a Ruling under this Rule to provide any guidance.

Reason for Decision

Under Rule 1106(2), the Adjudicative Committee is required to determine only whether the race should be void. The Adjudicative Committee is not required to determine the reasons for or any culpability for the error. In the event of a decision to void, the Adjudicative Committee, may direct the race to be run again.

Therefore, in reaching its decision, the Adjudicative Committee took into account the following factors: whether any horse was inconvenienced or disadvantaged at the start of the race and any significance the error in distance may have had in the running of the race.

The Adjudicative Committee reviewed the score up and the start of the race. The field formed up behind the mobile at the candy pole, where they were required to be before the 1700 metre starting point, as would have been required had the race been run over the correct distance. The field then continued in their positions through to the 1609 metre point, where the race was started.

In the score up and at the point of release from the mobile, the field were all in position, no horse could be said to be disadvantaged at the start. The start was clean.

The race was then completed, albeit with the horses running 91 metres (or 5%) less, than the race should have been.

Both 1700 and 1609 metre races are run at Alexandra Park. They are both short sprint distances and the Drivers drive accordingly.

In view of the clean start, all runners had an equal opportunity to take positions. While the race was shorter by 91 metres or 5% less, both distances (1609 metres and 1700 metres) would be considered short distance sprint races.

The Adjudicative Committee considered the 5% shorter distance was not significant enough to have altered the manner in which the Drivers drove and therefore the way the race was run and the chances of the horses in the race.

Decision

The Adjudicative Committee, after taking account of all the factors mentioned above, determined not to declare the race to be void, noting whether or not to declare a race void is the exercise of a discretion.