No Doubt The "Social License" Brigade Will Come Down Hard On Johnny Cox.

[Special Agent]

I'm not sure that Johnny Cox has been fairly treated here.

Were his actions clearly visible by anyone watching Trackside?  Some are saying it is difficult to confirm off tape if Cox made contact with the trailling horse, which would make his action only a deterrent for the horse for safety reasons.

The following driver Holmes said he did not hear Cox call out and had he heard he would have taken evasive action and pulled his horse off the cart and driver and gone out and forward in the running.  This was a potentially dangerous situation.

I may be wrong but, I thought Shane Renault had been a harness driver and, from his recorded comments I would have thought should have had a better practical understanding of safety issues compromised by the trailling horse almost climbing into the sulky as well as inconveniencing the driver ahead.

I also find it strange Stipendiary Steward Renault quoting a Code of Welfare for horses and donkeys under the Animal Welfare Act where you are not permitted to hit an equid over the head.  This would suggest there is no provision under the NZ Rules of Harness Racing.  To use the term equid seems bizzare unless, like in the movie Racing Stripes, there are hopes of a fast zebra being broken in to harness.

Judging solely from comments in this thread maybe Johhny Cox should join forces with Chris Johnson and Wiremu Pinn to unofficially discuss discrimination by officialdom.

[paleface adios]

I remember Trevor Warwick having the same problem as Johny cox he went back into the drivers room watched the replay to see who was driving behind him and it was greg harper then he knocked all of has front teeth out lol

[Special Agent]

That's one way to deal with it.  Cox is possibly in enough strife already to use those tactics though.  RIB highlighting this to the world is uncalled for.