Auckland TR 21 March 2025 – R2 (request for a ruling) – LITTLE BIT OF LOVE
ID: RIB52882
Animal Name:
LITTLE BIT OF LOVE
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
21/03/2025
Race Club:
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing
Race Location:
Pukekohe Park - 222/250 Manukau Road, Pukekohe Hill, Pukekohe, 2120
Race Number:
R2
Hearing Date:
21/03/2025
Hearing Location:
Pukekohe Racecourse
Outcome: Determination
Penalty: NA
Background
Following the running of Race 2 at the Auckland Thoroughbred Race meeting at Pukekohe Park on Friday 21 March 2025, the siren was sounded, and authorisation of dividends was withheld by Stewards due to the connections of the first equal placed runner LITTLE BIT OF LOVE, Requesting a Ruling with the Adjudicator to review the Judge’s decision based on the photo finish that was displayed on Trackside.
The Judge’s placings were
1= CHATTAHOOCHEE, 1= LITTLE BIT OF LOVE
3rd SHAMUS
4th KARMAN LINE
Evidence
Mr A Scott (Trainer of LITTLE BIT OF LOVE) requested a ruling on the first two placings made by the Judge. Mr Scott considered the film shown on Trackside showed a small margin in favour of LITTLE BIT OF LOVE over CHATTAHOOCHEE.
The Stewards showed the Trackside image of the finish, which is sent to Trackside from the Finish Lynx Film, which is set up in the Judge’s Box.
On viewing the Trackside image, it was noted that the Finish Lynx film cannot be expanded when transferred to Trackside and there can be some distortion. In addition, CHATTAHOOCHEE, being a grey horse, made its image on Trackside more difficult to identify.
The Adjudicative Committee determined that the image of the finish had to be viewed on the actual Finish Lynx monitor to determine the placings. This is the data source used by the Judge to determine placings.
Therefore, the Adjudicative Committee, Mr Scott, Ms Sweeney (Trainer of CHATTAHOOCHEE), Mr Dooley and the Judge viewed the image on the Finish Lynx Monitor in the Judge’s box.
Decision
The monitor provided a clearer definition than on Trackside and the image could be expanded to clearly determine the result of the race.
After viewing the available image 0n the Finish Lynx photo finish system located in the Judge’s box, the Adjudicative Committee determined that the result was a dead heat between LITTLE BIT OF LOVE and CHATTAHOOCHEE and the Judge’s placings should stand. The connections accepted the Adjudicative Committee’s decision.
The official placings were therefore confirmed, with dividends authorised to be paid.
1= CHATTAHOOCHEE, 1= LITTLE BIT OF LOVE
3rd SHAMUS
4th KARMAN LINE
Decision Date: 21/03/2025
Publish Date: 24/03/2025