push down rule

[the galah]

Isn't this rule one of the most obvious causes of interference in harness racing.Why have it?

Time after time we see horses hard on the back of the horse in front of it,then a horse wider on the track comes across,pushing it down ,the driver of the horse being pushed down tries to maintain his position,and as a result the driver on the outside continues his inward movement knowing when he contacts the horse inside him that he won't be fined and he won't be the one who suffers the inevitable interference to trailing horses as the horse inside him breaks. 

Last night we saw Zac butcher,push luk chin in. Now butcher was doing everything within the rules when he directed his sulky into the legs of the luk chin horse.But you have to ask,is it safe to have a rule where its accepted the driver in the right is the one who has changed direction to make contact.

They don't seem to allow this in australia or drivers don't seem to do it. 

[Gammalite]

1 hour ago, the galah said:

Last night we saw Zac butcher,push luk chin in. Now butcher was doing everything within the rules when he directed his sulky into the legs of the luk chin horse

sorry Mr Galah, have to disagree with that . 2 laps to go in race 6 and when the good Dr's horse galloped , the 2 sulkies were exactly alongside each other. Dr Chin had his horses head turning to the left trying to hold the back of the grey horse , and was off balance so went off-stride. there was nothing inside him along the inside , so his horse natural instinct would want to see him trot in 'room' and not rub shoulders with another runner ( Zac driving Mr Muscle.) 

I do concede that the $300 fine to Dr Chin was un-necessary. He has every right to hold position you would think. In this case it was to his detriment.  

[the galah]

3 hours ago, Gammalite said:

sorry Mr Galah, have to disagree with that . 2 laps to go in race 6 and when the good Dr's horse galloped , the 2 sulkies were exactly alongside each other. Dr Chin had his horses head turning to the left trying to hold the back of the grey horse , and was off balance so went off-stride. there was nothing inside him along the inside , so his horse natural instinct would want to see him trot in 'room' and not rub shoulders with another runner ( Zac driving Mr Muscle.) 

I do concede that the $300 fine to Dr Chin was un-necessary. He has every right to hold position you would think. In this case it was to his detriment.  

I've watched it a few times and can't tell exactly whether Butcher strikes the back leg of Chins horse or whether chins horse breaks as a result of trying to maintain his position when the rules say he should have conceded it. 

Either way,Butcher drove within the rules and chin should have conceded given the rule .

But my point is ,is the rule helping avoid interference or actually resulting in driving which causes interference. There have been many examples of interference being caused by horses breaking as a result of their drivers thinking they shouldn't have to concede their position to the outside horse.

Gammalite,can they push down in australia at any stage,or do they not have that rule because they deem it safer?

Edited July 16, 2022 by the galah

[Gammalite]

Fields are smaller Oz usually so positions are taken quickly after the start. races much shorter too is a factor. so not usually a problem anytime.

In the case you out-lined in the large trot field , it is an interesting case. Butcher obviously not wanting to be trapped 3 wide with 2 laps to go, was keen to get in the running line. also They are trotters (in this case) so can get off balance easier than pacers, a horse galloped so Punters are affected by that as well. and an experienced horseman fined for just trying to hold his spot.  There's Not really an easy answer to this problem .....