Wyndham HRC 10 November 2024 – R7 (Request for a Ruling) – BY CHANCE

ID: RIB48174

Respondent(s):
Mark David John Hurrell - Driver

Applicant:
Mr Shane Renault, Stipendiary Steward

Adjudicators:
Geoff Hall

Persons Present:
Mr Mark Hurrell, Driver

Information Number:
A21281

Decision Type:
Request for Ruling

Rule(s):
213(1)(j) - Other

Request for Ruling:
Request for ruling

Animal Name:
BY CHANCE

Code:
Harness

Race Date:
10/11/2024

Race Club:
Wyndham Harness Racing Club

Race Location:
Wyndham Racecourse - Alma St, Wyndham, 9892

Race Number:
R7

Hearing Date:
10/11/2024

Hearing Location:
Wyndham

Outcome: Determination

Penalty: N/A

Mr Renault sought a Ruling to determine whether BY CHANCE was denied a fair start in Race 7.

Following the race, the Driver of BY CHANCE, Mr Hurrell, advised Stewards he believed he had been denied a fair start when he was unable to take up his correct Unruly barrier position due to HERE’S JOHNY being in his position.

Mr Renault demonstrated on the videos, that BY CHANCE broke in the score up and was out of position at the start. Mr Hurrell had chased his horse up and was rapidly catching the field. He commented that Mr Hurrell was correct when he said HERE’S JOHNY was in Unruly 1, which was the position that belonged to BY CHANCE. When the field left the mobile, BY CHANCE was some 3 or 4 lengths behind its rightful position on the Unruly on the mobile.

Mr Hurrell said he had had to ease his horse over the last 50 to 60 metres before the mobile was released, due to his not being able to take up his position. Otherwise, he would have hunted up with more vigour. When questioned, Mr Renault agreed that Mr Hurrell appeared to have taken hold of BY CHANCE over the last 50 or so metres after coming up quickly behind the field. He was sitting in the cart and not urging the horse.

Determination

BY CHANCE had initially broken from its gait and was a long way behind the field as the mobile first commenced to roll. The horse made up ground quickly and Mr Hurrell can be seen to stop urging BY CHANCE some 50 to 60 metres prior to the mobile moving away. Mr Hurrell said he had had to ease his horse, due to his not being able to take up his Unruly 1 position. The opportunity for the horse to take its correct barrier position as the field was released from the mobile, was denied to it.

In these circumstances, the Adjudicative Committee advised Mr Renault, it was of the opinion that BY CHANCE had been denied a fair start.

Decision Date: 10/11/2024

Publish Date: 12/11/2024