Thu, July 5, 2018

Stewards inquiry and a jockeys objection from the rider of the fourth place finisher #7 Midnight Tea Time(Jose Ortiz) against the first place finisher #4 Argonne(Dylan Davis) for alleged interference in the vicinity of the 1/16th pole.

As #4 Argonne drifts out under a left handed crop and #7 Midnight Tea Time has to take a take up completely stopping his momentum. After reviewing the video and speaking to the riders involved, in the judgment of the stewards this incident altered the final placement of the race. #4 Argonne is hereby demoted from first place and placed fourth. The new order of finish is 8.6.7.4

With regard to interference, New York is a “Category 2” state, meaning that Commission rules provide that if the interferer is guilty of causing interference and such interference in the judgment of the Stewards has altered the finish of the race, then the interferer is placed behind the offended horse.

The Stewards consider whether the riders of the horse or horses that are offended continue to give effort to the finish of the race.

The Stewards also consider whether the offending jockey acted in a willful or careless manner while interfering with another horse or jockey, for which the interferer may be disqualified, i.e., placed last or unplaced in the order of finish. For example, if an offending jockey acts in a dangerous manner, exhibits extremely improper riding or impedes several horses, the Stewards may disqualify the offending horse without regard to the specific effect of the foul on the order of finish.

For more information, see Commission rule 4035.2 (“Riding foul penalized