R Te Aroha 20 September 2026 – R4 (Request for a Ruling) – LORD SPENCER

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 4, Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones filed an Information Requesting a Ruling that LORD SPENCER (L Douglas) be disqualified after it ran inside markers near the 450 metres.

Rule 918(1) provides that a Stipendiary Steward may file an Information seeking a Ruling from an Adjudicator.

Rule 637(1)(a) provides”:

637(1) A horse may be, in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed, disqualified for a Race if:

(a)   it runs on the wrong side of any post, flag, drum or other boundary mark and does not turn back and run the proper course from such post, flag, drum or other boundary mark;

Submissions for Decision:

At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Oatham read aloud Rule 637(1)(a), after which the Rider of LORD SPENCER advised the Adjudicative Committee that he contested the disqualification.

Mr Jones showed several camera angles of the incident. These included side-on, turn and head-on films. He pointed out that the films demonstrate that LORD SPENCER went inside a track marker nearing the 450 metres and then ran over the top of another marker.

In response, Mr Douglas said that his mount shied and run out and he corrected it immediately. He said that he was not contesting that he went inside the marker, but wanted to point out that his horse shied.

Ms Rayner said that “he’s ducked sideways, the films are clear and what’s done is done”.

Reasons for Decision:

It is not in dispute that LORD SPENCER shifted inside one track marker and then ran over the top of another. The relevant Rule is clear: once a horse has run on the wrong side of a marker and does not turn back to complete the correct course, a breach occurs.

The Adjudicative Committee accepts that LORD SPENCER may have ducked in, shied, or shifted ground abruptly. However, whilst that explains why the horse went inside the marker; it does not remove the Rider’s obligation under the Rule to turn back and complete the correct course. Although that outcome may appear harsh, the Rule is clear in its application.

The Adjudicative Committee also considered the margin between LORD SPENCER, which finished in fifth place, and ODYSSEUS, which finished in sixth place, together with the $2,000 difference in stake money. In the Adjudicative Committee’s view, had Mr Douglas turned back and completed the correct course, the placings between fifth and sixth would most likely have been reversed.

LORD SPENCER is disqualified as required by the Rule.

Decision(s):

Accordingly, pursuant to Rules 918(1) and 637(1)(a), the Adjudicative Committee determined that LORD SPENCER be disqualified from the race. Mr Douglas’ riding fee is forfeited.