Racing News

Just to reinforce my last point, football clubs in the English League have been ordered to remove any gambling related logos from their uniforms, costing them millions in sponsorship. In other words, it's not just a New Zealand trend.

Canterbury Racing-April 2026-Race 1-DAKOTA-Instigating a Protest ID: RIB65757 Respondent(s): Dean Ray MacGregor Applicant: Matt Cartwright-Class A Rider Adjudicators: Mr S Ching (Chair) and Mr D Anderson Persons Present: John Oatham-Chief Stipendiary Steward, Matt Cartwright-Class A Rider, Michael Pitman-Licensed Trainer, Akshay Balloo-Class A Rider, Dean MacGregor-Licensed Trainer Information Number: A20487 Decision Type: Protest Rule(s): 642(1) - Riding/driving infringement - Protest Plea: Contested Protest: 2nd placed STUDENT OF WAR against 1st placed DAKOTA Stewards Report Results Animal Name: DAKOTA Code: Thoroughbred Race Date: 11/04/2026 Race Club: Canterbury Jockey Club Race Location: Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch, Race Number: R1 Hearing Date: 11/04/2026 Hearing Location: Riccarton Park, Christchurch Outcome: Protest Dismissed Penalty: Protest dismissed Evidence Following the running of Race number 1, an Information was filed Instigating a Protest pursuant to Rule 642(1). The Applicant Class A Rider Matt Cartwright, Rider of 2nd placed STUDENT OF WAR, alleged that horse number 13 DAKOTA placed 1st by the Judge, interfered with the chances of horse number 7 STUDENT OF WAR placed 2nd by the Judge.https://bitofayarn.com The interference was alleged to have occurred in the final straight. The Judge’s provisional placings were as follows: 1st No.13 DAKOTA 2nd No.7 STUDENT OF WAR 3rd No. 15 TINUVIEL 4th No.4 LEONARD The official margin between 1st and 2nd was a head. Rule 642(1) provides: “If a placed horse or its Rider causes interference within the meaning of this Rule 642 to another placed horse, and the Adjudicative Committee is of the opinion that the horse so interfered with would have finished ahead of the first mentioned horse had such interference not occurred, they may place the first mentioned horse immediately after the horse interfered with”.https://bitofayarn.com Submissions For Decision Prior to hearing submissions from the respective parties, the Adjudicative Committee requested that Stewards show all available race films of the alleged interference and identify the runners. The replays, including head on, side on and 600m cameras, showed 1st placed DAKOTA, ridden by Akshay Balloo, under a ride shifting inwards near the 200m and make contact with 2nd placed STUDENT OF WAR, ridden by Matt Cartwright, who was looking to come out in search of clear running. The films showed two further points of contact between both horses over the concluding stages. The Applicant Class A Rider Matt Cartwright, rider of STUDENT OF WAR, stated that his mount was contacted 3 times over the concluding stages. He said the first point of contact has cost him momentum, the second point of contact was the most costly as he had just got his momentum back after the first contact was made with the next point of contact also costing his horse.https://bitofayarn.com The Trainer of STUDENT OF WAR, Michael Pitman, stated that DAKOTA had shifted in from wide on the track and made contact with STUDENT OF WAR which cost the horse at least 1/2 a length, the second point of contact also cost his horse again with the third contact also costing STUDENT OF WAR. With the margin being only a head he had no doubt that with a clear run his horse would have beaten the winner DAKOTA. The Rider of DAKOTA, Akshay Balloo stated that he accepts that he shifted in from wide on the track with his horse racing greenly but he stated he did straighten up his mount after contact was made. He said that STUDENT OF WAR then kept bouncing into him and pushing him off his line of running over the concluding stages. Mr Balloo stated that Mr Cartwright did not stop riding his horse out over the concluding stages but he had to stop riding and straighten his mount on two occasions over the final stages of the race. He added that he did not believe that STUDENT OF WAR would have beaten him if both horses had had clear runs to the post.https://bitofayarn.com The Respondent Trainer Dean MacGregor stated that the replays showed Mr Cartwright, use the whip in the left hand and has moved out 2 horse widths when contact was made. He said that STUDENT OF WAR then lay in to DAKOTA and in his opinion, Mr Cartwright, should have straightened his mount. Mr MacGregor stated that from then on DAKOTA has maintained s straight line and STUDENT OF WAR has continued to shift outwards making contact again and from there on both horses have clear runs to the post. He added that this was a pretty weak protest and that Mr Cartwright has never stopped riding his horse out. Mr MacGregor stated that he could not see a change of placings in this protest. Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Oatham outlined the Stewards’ interpretation of the alleged interference. He said there are 3 points of contact, the first being near the 200m, where the Stewards believe that both horses have shifted ground and come together. The second point of contact would appear to come mainly from a shift by STUDENT OF WAR with both horses coming together for a distance, with the final point of contact near the 75m, he said. Mr Oatham added that the last point of contact was DAKOTA shifting in but it appears that DAKOTA comes off the worse from that contact. From that point on. he said, both horses have a fair run to the line. In the Stewards view, Mr Oatham said, they would not support the protest. Reasons For Decisionhttps://bitofayarn.com In accordance with the requirements of the Protest Rule the Adjudicative Committee must firstly establish that interference occurred; and secondly, if interference is established, the horse interfered with would have beaten the other runner, had such interference not occurred. After hearing submissions and reviewing the video footage the Adjudicative Committee established that there was contact between both runners at the 200m and during the run to the post until near the 75 metres. The Committee was satisfied that DAKOTA had shifted in and made contact with STUDENT OF WAR who at the same time was shifting out to obtain clear running with both horses contributing to this incident. We were satisfied that the second point of contact was made due to a shift outwards by STUDENT OF WAR. There after both horses came together over a distance before the 3rd point of contact where DAKOTA shifts inwards and makes contact with STUDENT OF WAR, although DAKOTA seems to be affected the most by this point of contact. The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that interference did occur by both runners, however having considered the degree and nature of the interference, the way both horses finished the race off and the margins being a head, at the finish, the Adjudicative Committee is not satisfied that STUDENT OF WAR would have finished ahead of DAKOTA. On that basis the protest is dismissed, and the Judge’s placings stand. Decision Accordingly, the protest is dismissed, and the Judge’s placings stand. The Adjudicative Committee authorised the payment of dividends and stake money in accordance with the decision.https://bitofayarn.com Decision Date: 11/04/2026 Publish Date: 15/04/2026  

Why hasn't this taken 12 months to sort out? Cmon RIB be consistent that's all we are asking for!

The full sister to grade 1 winner Olympiad breaks her maiden April 8 at Keeneland.View the full article

I guess it depends on what type of test was taken.  A hair test would show nearly all drugs taken in the last 3 months. If it was a Urine test and the person was a heavy user then some drugs would be detected still.  Of course alcohol wouldn't show. If this case was in a District Court the guilty party would be treated as if they had returned a positive.  First offence 6 months loss of license and a $600 fine.   No doubt the RIB will set a precedent and we will see the usual provocative exaggerated headline on Stuff. I do think some of the online abuse has been way over the top and off the mark.