Auckland TC 25 April 2025 – R6 – Request for a Ruling

Following the running of Race 6, Breckon Farms Northern Derby Mobile Trot (Group 1), an Information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, requesting a ruling “in that the race was run over the wrong distance”.

Rule 1106 provides as follows:

(2)     A Stipendiary Steward may file an information in respect of a race on the grounds that: (b)    the race was 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.

EVIDENCE:

Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, showed a video replay of the start of the 2700 metres mobile start race. It appeared that the race had been started from near the mile starting point, he said. The Adjudicative Committee was being asked to make a ruling a to whether this had an impact on the integrity of the race as such to declare the race void.

Mr McIntyre showed, on the video replay, the mobile arm pass the 1700 metres point and, some 10 metres later, pass the 2700 metres starting point. The horses were travelling at normal speed, but the barrier has not been released until the mile marker, some 90 metres after the 2700 metres starting point, he said. He submitted that the gate was going at a “reasonable speed”, preparing to pull away from the field with the horses holding the gate, until it was released at the mile marker.

On returning after the race, no Driver expressed any concern to the Stewards over the start, Mr McIntyre said. The horses had raced the whole 2700 metres, but only 2600 metres, after the gate was released. No runner appeared to be denied a fair start. Mr McIntyre pointed out that MEANT TO BE, drawn barrier position 5 on the second row, had got through to lead. By the time the field reached the 2200 metres, only ILLICIT LOVE (6) was unable to get in, he said.

The starter, Frank Phelan, said that he did not get a call from the Driver, Mr Shorter, He was looking at the big field of 13 runners, rather than the distance markers on the outside fence. In hindsight, he should have called a false start when he realised that the field had gone too far. Mr Shorter is only new at the job and is still learning the job. A more experienced Driver was available, but Mr Shorter was being given experience of the job on “bigger nights”, Mr Phelan said.

The Driver of the mobile, Mr Shorter, apologised and said he had just missed the mark. It was a mistake on his part, he said.

Stipendiary Steward, Steve Mulcay, read the Rule to the hearing and pointed out to the Adjudicative Committee that it had a discretion in the matter and it was not mandatory to declare the race void.

REASONS FOR RULING:

The race was clearly run over the wrong distance. The mobile arm was approximately 100 metres past the 2700 metres starting point when the start was declared and the vehicle accelerated away. The Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that, at the point of release, all runners were in correct position for the start, and the start itself was, in every other respect, a good one.

It appeared that no runner was denied a fair start or prejudiced in any way by what was, effectively, a delayed start. It is significant, as the Adjudicative Committee heard, that as the runners were returning post-race, no Driver complained to the Stipendiary Steward stationed at the gate leading off the track. A Driver is required to report if his or her runner may have been denied a fair start. None did so.

The race was a Group 1 Race for 3-year-old trotters for a stake of $100,000 and it was not a viable option for it to be run again. In any event, the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that the event was a fair contest for all runners.

DETERMINATION:

The Adjudicative Committee ruled that, notwithstanding that the race was run over the wrong distance, the race is not voided.