Mon, August 8, 2016

RACE 4: Stewards inquiry with a Trainers objection from Rudy Rodriguez and an objection from the rider of the #3 Mighty Moses (Irad Ortiz, Jr.) for alleged interference around the 1/16^th pole against the second place finisher #8 Basic Hero (Luis Saez). The #8 drifts in taking away the #3 racing room causing him to lose momentum and take up sharply for several strides then goes on to finish fifth by less than a length. After reviewing the video and speaking to all the riders involved, in the judgment of the stewards this incident altered the finish of the race and #8 is disqualified from second and placed fifth behind the #3. The new order of finish is 1-5-7-3-8 

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