Chief Stipe

I think you are being harsh. It isn't being treated any differently to similarly behaved horses. Plus the rules as they stand are being applied. The only problem I see is its drawn one however given the size of the field there will be nothing following it out of the gate for it to interfere with. Does the option still exist for a Trainer to request a horse be put on the Unruly list?

@Brodie are you trying to improve the price for your plunge on Lizzie? She last raced on 13 April and did break twice in the running. The Stewards have put her on a warning. That race was her first in 7 months. However she did have two trials between those starts 29 March and 6 April. She performed OK in those trials - didn't break and paced cleanly the whole distance. What more are the Stewards supposed to do given she trialled OK and they put her on a warning for her last race performance?

Jim Dalgety dies, age 88 20 April 2022 Harness racing has lost one of its greats with the passing of famed horseman Jim Dalgety. The 88-year-old passed away overnight on Wednesday at his home in Canterbury, where he had wanted to spend his final days. He leaves behind a huge legacy in the industry not only as the patriarch of a famous harness racing family through son Cran and grandson Carter but for what he achieved personally and those he passed his skills on to. A ruthlessly hard worker and deep thinker about the harness racing industry Jim learned his craft under legends like Maurice Holmes and Cecil Devine, settling in Canterbury after moving from his home town of Oamaru. He was a successful trainer and breeder, owning many of his better horses which included the Great Northern Derby winning brothers Bolton Byrd and Melton Monarch, Bolton Byrd going on to win the Auckland Cup. Bolton Byrd was driven in both those group 1 wins by a young Robert Dunn, Melton Monarch in his Derby triumph by Barry Purdon, just two examples of the impact Dalgety’s mentorship would later have in harness racing. While they were his best the list of Dalgety stars, either trained, bred or owned was long: Golden Oriole, Happy Hazel, Scuse Me, Solberge, Lucy Lumber, Fancy Wishes, Imagine That, Rely, Astrazaani, Violetta, Jovial Jeanne, Dictatorship and Sunny Action, who caused one of harness racing’s greatest upsets downing Lyell Creek in the NZ Trotting Free-For-All. But like most of the greats of the industry the deeds of his horses only tell part of the story. “Dad was a hard worker and somebody who liked to do things the right way,” says son Cran. “He instilled that and my brother Blair and I and everybody who worked with him. “He knowledge was wonderful and he never stopped learning.”
 Dalgety also stood stallions Bachelor Hanover and Out To Win and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of bloodlines both here and in North America. He imparted that knowledge on anybody who asked for his help, his pearls of wisdom always accompanied by his catch phrase “me old mate.” Being called “me old mate” by somebody twice your age may have made plenty who talked to Jim smile but being welcomed into the “me old mate” club was like a warm blanket of experience being draped across your shoulder, harness racing’s version of having made it. So Wednesday was the end of an era, with Dalgety joining others legends no longer with us like Derek Jones and most recently Roy Purdon, off for a drink with his real “me old mates.” But what he achieved in his life, both as a family man and in harness racing, will be felt for decades to come.

Waikato BOP H 14 March 2022 – R2 – James Stormont ID: RIB8612 Respondent(s): James Stormont - Driver Applicant: Nigel McIntyre - Chairman of Stewards Adjudicators: Bryan Scott Persons Present: James Stormont - Driver of KELVINZ LUCK , Mr McIntyre Information Number: A11121 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Starting from an incorrect Barrier position Rule(s): 859(2) Plea: Admitted Stewards Report Results Animal Name: KELVINZ LUCK Code: Harness Race Date: 14/04/2022 Race Club: Waikato BOP Harness Racing Inc Race Location: Cambridge Raceway - 1 Taylor Street, Cambridge, 3434 Race Number: R2 Hearing Date: 14/04/2022 Hearing Location: Cambridge Raceway Outcome: Proved Penalty: Driver James Stormont is fined $400 Following the running of the SENZ HANDICAP TROT an Information was lodged by Chairman of Stewards Mr N McIntyre against Driver Mr J Stormont the Driver of KELVINZ LUCK alleging that Mr Stormont was in breach of Rule 859(2) in that he permitted his horse to start from an incorrect Barrier position. Rule 859(2) provides: No Driver shall permit a horse to start and no horse shall start other than from its correct barrier position or in advance of its correct barrier position (either at a standing , mobile or moving start) unless directed by the Starter. Mr Stormont was present at the hearing and he acknowledged that he understood the Rule and that he admitted the breach. Mr McIntyre demonstrated the incident by use of the race films and showed where KELVINZ LUCK was on the 20 metres mark and it started from the Unruly 1 position when it should have started from Unruly 2. Mr Stormont for his part, said he had had a poor trip down to Cambridge and as a result his mind was not properly on the job. He said that this was the first time ever that he started out of position. PENALTY SUBMISSIONS: Mr McIntyre said that this was unlike Mr Stormont and he has a clear record under this Rule. He said that the starting point penalty was either a $400 fine or a suspension for 8 drives. He also said that the Stewards did not believe that Mr Stormont gained an advantage by starting from the wrong barrier even though KELVINZ LUCK went on to win the race. Mr Stormont said he preferred a fine and he pointed to two other Drivers who received similar fines for the same offence. DECISION: The breach is admitted and accordingly the charge is upheld. PENALTY REASONS: Mr Stormont has won the race but the Stewards have said that he did not gain an advantage by starting from the incorrect barrier. He has won the race and that is an aggravating factor but this is cancelled out by his excellent record under this Rule. The Adjudicative Committee sees no reason to deviate from the Starting Point Penalties advised by Mr McIntyre and is going to deal with this matter by way of a fine. CONCLUSION: This Adjudicative Committee imposes a fine of $400 on Mr Stormont.

NZ Metro TC 16 April 2022 – R2 – Blair Orange ID: RIB8596 Respondent(s): Blair Orange - Driver Applicant: Nigel McIntyre, Chief Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Russell McKenzie (Chair) and Dave Anderson Information Number: A16132 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Careless Driving Rule(s): 869(3)(b) Plea: Admitted Stewards Report Results Animal Name: PETRONELLI GEE Code: Harness Race Date: 16/04/2022 Race Club: NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc Race Location: Addington Raceway - 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington, Christchurch, 8024 Race Number: R2 Hearing Date: 16/04/2022 Hearing Location: Addington Raceway, Christchurch Outcome: Proved Penalty: Driver Blair Orange suspended 2 days BACKGROUND: Following the running of Race 2, IRT “Ratto” Showcase Handicap Trot, Driver Blair Orange admitted a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) namely that he drove carelessly near the 100 metres by shifting his runner, PETRONELLI GEE, inwards which which forced PRINCE TEKA (Kyle Cameron) down onto READY I AM (Philippa Wakelin) which contributed to that horse falling. The Respondent endorsed the Information “I do admit the breach of the Rule” and confirmed he understood the Rule and and nature of the charge. Rule 869(3)(b) provides: No driver in any race shall drive carelessly. EVIDENCE: Using available video replays, Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, identified the horses involved in the incident. He pointed out PETRONELLI GEE, driven by Mr Orange, which had been racing four places back on the markers prior to the home turn, shift out as the field entered the home straight and get onto the back of TAKE AFTER ME (John Morrison), being held up and looking for a run. Mr Orange then directed his horse inwards, Stewards were alleging, in a sharp move and as a result, Kyle Cameron, Driver of PRINCE TEKA which was to the inside of Mr Orange, had to turn his horse’s head away to give Mr Orange room. Mr Orange got his runner through the gap and went on to win the race. In the incident READY I AM (Philippa Wakelin), which was held up when AIGUILLE (Robbie Close) broke and shifted out into her line, fell to the track. Ms Wakelin had nowhere to go, being caught between AIGUILLE, which had shifted out and PRINCE TEKA, which had been shifted in. Stewards did not believe that Mr Orange was fully to blame for the fall, Mr McIntyre said. Mr Orange said that his shift did not contribute to READY I AM’s falling. He agreed that he had “come in a little bit tight” when Mr Cameron’s runner was stopping and Mr Cameron had to take hold “a little bit”. DECISION: The charge is admitted by the Respondent and is therefore deemed proved. SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY: Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre said that Mr Orange was a Senior Sriver. To date this season (from 1 January 2022), Mr Orange has had 437 drives and in the previous extended season 1653. He is a Driver that Stewards do not usually have to talk to, Mr McIntyre said. However, Stewards believed that a suspension was called for in this case. The starting point under the Penalty Guide is a 10-drives suspension and, in Mr Orange’s case, this should be a 2-days suspension, he said. Mr Orange sought a deferment of any term of suspension until after 22 April 2022. REASONS FOR PENALTY: The appropriate starting point for penalty in this case is a 10-drives suspension. No Driver in New Zealand is busier than Mr Orange. For example, at tonight’s meeting, Mr Orange had a drive in 9 of the 11 races. In addition to that, he drives at every South Island meeting as well as some North Island meetings. In this case, Mr Orange’s runner has been full of running and looking for racing room. Mr Orange has misjudged the gap between TAKE AFTER ME and PRINCE TEKA and, in doing so, drove carelessly. Mr Orange’s runner, PETRONELLI GEE, having taken the gap, went on to win the race – an aggravating factor. The breach was in the mid-to-high range. On the other hand, Mr Orange has an undeniably excellent driving record and has admitted the breach. A 2-days suspension for Mr Orange could well involve as many as 15–20 drives so a suspension of 2 days well and truly punishes this breach, having regard to all factors referred to. CONCLUSION: The Respondent’s licence is suspended from after racing on 22 April 2022 up to and including 25 April 2022 – 2 days. The meetings intended to be encompassed by the term of suspension are Geraldine TC on 24 April and Ashburton TC on 25 April 2022.

Why? No injury to horse or Jockey.

Never said she did anything wrong. But a Professional Top Driver would have chosen a different option. Do you think she had FULL control of her horse?

Why was it too lenient? Because of the outcome to Ready I Am? Why discount the Aiguille movement? Just because it was galloping?

No what I am saying is she didn't have full control of her horse and she took the wrong option given what she could see in front of her. Aiguille was galloping and running OUT. The fact the horse broke its rear hind leg is bad luck. Note not the leg that hit the wheel of either Aiguille or Prince Teka.

So why hammer the Professional top driver who made a split second decision and won? Orange couldn't see Ready I Am. All he could see was a tiring Prince Teka while he had a handful of horse.

Well power outage Saturday and another one today! MEETING NEWS Race 12 at Riverton abandoned Race 12 will be abandoned at Riverton due to being too close to sunset time.

How many horses in the old days came back with paint on their flanks?

You're getting soft Gammalite. From what I've seen over the years you are more likely to clip heels if you have a hand full of horse and you stay on the backside of the one in front. Nash got the horses neck and shoulder inside and pushed out. Full credit to Kementari to have the strength to do it.

Right so the essence of your argument is that there should have been an inquiry into the placings. Petronelli Gee should have been disqualified for crowding the tiring horse Prince Teka. I guess you wanted Aiguille disqualified too? 99 times out of 100 Ready I Am wouldn't have fallen. A top driver would have steered clear of Aiguille and ducked down to the rail.

Scratched today. Lining up Wednesday. https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/racing/full-calendar/thoroughbred/meeting/ipsw/20220420/race/2

What rules? How could it have gone through a gap that didn't exist? That aside Prince Teka was tiring badly and a gap emerged for Petronelli Gee. Orange mistimed it by a split second otherwise would have got through without interference. There is no way that Ready I Am would have taken that gap nor the one between Prince Teka and Aiguille as the latter was moving out. Look at the video and you can see that Ready I Am is essentially on the back of the galloping Aiguille - a top driver would have seen that horse galloping early and have gone inside it as soon as it started moving out.

Ready I Am wasn't even in a gap between Prince Teka and the galloping Aiguille. Couldn't Wakelin see the galloping Aiguille coming back onto it? There was plenty of time and room to go inside it.

Enquiry about what? To achieve what?

I think the Stipes got it right. Orange caused interference and got pinged for it. Aiguille moved out while galloping and closed the gap on I Am Ready. There were a number of factors that caused I Am Ready to fall.

There was a judicial investigation - how do you think Orange was charged? There wasn't in inquiry into places because no dividend bearing placed horse was interfered with. I disagree Aiguille took I Am Ready's line not Prince Teka. Wakelin had ample time to move inside Aiguille but could control her horse - she is leaning out of the sulking trying to steer it! You can see clearly in this sequence of photo's that Prince Teka is going backwards at a great rate of knots - damn near walking and Aiguille has moved at least two cart widths out and is galloping erratically. Orange is well gone by the time I Am Ready falls.

Even with Prince Teka down to a walk and Aiguille moving outwards to close the gap?

Why isn't MPI prosecuting?

I disagree. Just watched the end of the race a few times. Aiguille also ran out and took the feet out from under Ready I Am. Fell well after Orange had gone. Sure Orange moved in but Prince Teka was tiring badly and it and Aiguille squeezed the other horse. Any opinions on whether or not Wakelin had full control of her horse?

Yes absolutely. Otherwise the case comes down to opinion be it a vets opinion. Looking at those involved on the RIB side I cannot see how Harris will get a fair hearing. Were tests done to determine the cause of the problem? The nub of the case is - was Harris aware of the problem? Did he act quickly enough to address it? The Vet taking 16 days to get there didn't help either.