Went inside the last 5 marker pegs and still allowed to keep the race!

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BN090618&fromstate=vic#BNC09061806

The leader Bonus Play did just that - how can he keep the race?

[Richard prior]

Did Lang protest Kev?? I’m with you on this one, Should have been DQ’d

[Messenger]

Just watching on Trots vision there seemed to me to be some urgency to declare correct weight as they had a rug out on the track almost immediately and were wanting to do a presentation. I think the stewards should also have protested

[Richard prior]

DQ’d might be a bit harsh but certainly relegated

[Dot]

The rule does say "may" rather then will be disqualified. He clearly went inside the pegs but didn't gain an advantage over the opposition which is presumably why he wasn't DQ. The horse has been sent back to the trials so I guess stewards attribute blame to the horse and not the driver as he wasn't fined. Perhaps the written report wil make it clearer.

[Messenger]

One side of me says "Does it matter?" when the horse has not gained an advantage while my athletics background remembers that putting one foot in another competitors lane means disqualification

[Richard prior]

Rules are Rules Kev, Every man and their dog will start doing it it’s not policed properly

[Messenger]

There is a possibility that a bit of sentiment came into it (at least from Gavin) due to the circumstances of the trainer

[gutwagon]

If you don't go around that last red peg it needs to be automatic DQ. Leaving things up to stewards discretion just leads to controversy and damages the image of the sport.

[Messenger]

If you don't go around that last red peg it needs to be automatic DQ. Leaving things up to stewards discretion just leads to controversy and damages the image of the sport.

I was sent an interesting email on this topic and it got me thinking that not leaving it up to the stewards discretion could lead to more controversy.
If a driver wanted to throw a race, all he would have to do is go inside the pegs - sinister thinking I know but it could happen

[gutwagon]

That's a long bow to draw Kevin, a driver could just fall out of the cart if they wanted to throw a race ! Do we duct tape them all in ? Plenty of ways to throw races that are less obvious than that.

That is where the stewards can judge if a race was thrown by the driver or the horse caused it, got to leave them something to do!

[Messenger]

Is it really that long a bow when we had allegations that a driver through a race by deliberately locking wheels?

I don't see how it is any more obvious than many other ways and it sure would be my preference over hitting terra firma