Educate me folks - why would he do it?
Light fine would no doubt be due to it being while completing the preliminary
Gavin Lang, driver of Blitzthemcalder pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 168(1) for improper driving, the particulars being that whilst completing the preliminary, Mr Lang removed his left foot from the sulky footrest and placed it in the vicinity of the horse’s near hind leg and made contact on two occasions. Mr Lang was fined $250. In assessing penalty Stewards considered Mr Lang’s guilty plea, forthright evidence and the circumstances of this matter.
Educate me folks - why would he do it?
Light fine would no doubt be due to it being while completing the preliminary
per un PUGNO di DOLLARI
I need educating as well please. I'm intrigued.
"Hocking" refers to making contact with the horses hocks or rear leg/feet with your boot to get the most out of them/rev them up etc. and is illegal,
doing it in the prelim, maybe as he came into the straight and 'clicked' him up to give the signal so the horse remembers for when he does it in the race ??
As far as doing this with a trotter it beats me as you would think they would be inclined to gallop??
Quoting Keith: As far as doing this with a trotter it beats me as you would think they would be inclined to gallop??
That was what really had me wondering too
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Gav has a long history of doing it. Particularly in big races. Personally I dont see the big deal in it. Its not as if hes whipping them to death. But. Rules are rules.
Can be used to remind the horse of a non race day workout so absolutely no place for it whatsoever.
The main reason he would have been doing it in the prelim is to firer the horse up and get him on the bit in the hope he would leave the gate quicker. The reason drivers do it during a race is like a scare tactie, try and get them some where their not use to in the hope it will give them a fright and they will find something. Gavin and others have been doing it for years. Which is why I said sick of lite fines.
Ray, you and Jack know some horror stories. I always think of Gav as a horse-lover not an abuser (not saying that you are saying otherwise)
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What is really weird is that you have quoted me and yet my post has an 'o' in horse-lover and yet the quote does not
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