CHRB Advances Amendment That Would Roll Back Parts of In-Race Riding Interference Rule

[Wandering Eyes]

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday took initial steps to roll back parts of an in-race riding interference rule after both jockeys and stewards decided that several tweaks made to the regulation over the past decade aren't working in ways that stakeholders had anticipated.

The CHRB voted 6-0 on Aug. 21 to send amendments to Rule 1699 out for a public commentary period, after which commissioners will vote again to finalize any new changes before they go into effect.

A CHRB staff analysis of the changes that was published in the informational packet for Thursday's meeting described the situation like this:

“Rule 1699 currently provides that a jockey who rides contrary to the rule will face a minimum suspension of two riding days and [stewards] shall issue a suspension greater than the minimum for more than one infraction of this rule within a contiguous 60-day calendar period or any infraction which the steward determines jeopardized the safety of another horse or jockey.

“However, the rule has been deemed impractical by stakeholders and CHRB due to the lack of clarity,” the analysis stated.

“Therefore, CHRB staff recommends that regulations be amended to eliminate the minimum penalty for suspension and allow the stewards to either disqualify, suspend, or otherwise discipline a jockey who rides in a manner contrary to this rule and allowing the stewards to use their discretion,” the analysis stated.

“CHRB staff also recommends that regulations be amended to address a leading horse not crossing over to impel the passing horse to shorten its stride,” the analysis stated.

Prior to a brief discussion of the proposed changes, CHRB chairman Gregory Ferraro, DVM, explained that the impetus for the rule changes “actually started last summer, when I asked the stewards if they had one thing they would like to change, one rule they would like to change. This is it.

“So basically, we're giving the stewards judgment as to penalty, severity, length, et cetera,” Ferraro said.

CHRB Chief Steward Darrel McHargue added that all of the state's stewards are in agreement about the changes, and that The Jockeys' Guild also supports the amendment.

Back in November 2016, the CHRB attempted to simplify the rule's language and better define “interference” while also requiring stewards to issue enhanced penalties against jockeys who committed multiple infractions within a 90-day period or who jeopardized the safety of another horse or jockey.

In March 2018, the CHRB made a second rule tweak to enable stewards to discipline a jockey who rode in a manner contrary to the regulation in a careless or willful manner, or who strikes at another horse or jockey, by establishing a minimum penalty of two riding days.

That amendment also called for the issuance of a suspension greater than the minimum for more than one infraction of the rule by the jockey within a 60-day calendar period, or any infraction which, in the opinion of the stewards, jeopardized the safety of another horse or jockey.

But after nearly a decade of practical applications of Rule 1699 in officiating races, “The stakeholders and the Board have determined that these amendments do not function the way they anticipated and would prefer discretion when issuing a penalty,” the CHRB staff analysis stated.

“The regulation is vague regarding subsequent penalties and leads to the question if stewards are required to increase the penalty from the last ruling or if they are only obligated to increase the penalty above the minimum as described in the rule,” the analysis stated.

“The stakeholders feel that discretion is better on subsequent penalties rather than having to follow the rule because a garden-variety violation followed by a minor infraction may lead to too severe of a penalty for the second violation,” the analysis stated.

“The stakeholders and the Board also determined that interference did not cover all situations as anticipated,” the analysis stated.

McHargue told commissioners that by making the new amendments, “You're giving us more discretion to actually assess penalties.”

One change to Rule 1699 that got voted in now will re-assert that, “A leading horse is entitled to any part of the course, but when another horse is attempting to pass in a clear opening, the leading horse shall not cross over so as to compel the passing horse to shorten its stride.”

Another part of Rule 1699 that is currently written this way:

“A horse which interferes with another…may be disqualified and placed behind the horse so interfered with if, in the opinion of the Stewards, the horse interfered with was not at fault and due to the interference lost the opportunity for a better placing.”

Will be amended to instead state:

“A horse which interferes with another…may be disqualified and placed behind the horse so interfered with or last if, in the opinion of the Stewards, the horse interfered with was not at fault and the interference occurs in a part of the race where the horse interfered with loses the opportunity to place where it might be reasonably expected to finish.”

 

The post CHRB Advances Amendment That Would Roll Back Parts of In-Race Riding Interference Rule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article