TIMES
At the Parkes meeting held on 11/1/12, both A Turnbull (Hes Magic Red) and A Day(Treuative) were charged under Rule 162 for failing to adhere to minimum time standards after both of them posted 66 sec halves in consecutive races and were pinged with $100 fines. Ouch! I am sure that will deter them from committing that crime again as both of their charges collected first prizemoney for their indiscretions. It is either a stupid rule or a stupid deterrant. I think it is a stupid rule, when all the girls are doing is protecting and giving their horses every possible, whilst their opponents are the guilty ones by not showing any initiative to put any steam into the race.
MARGINS
At the same meeting both E McDermott (Hares Crossing) and J Winnell (Bohemian Art) were both charged under Rule 163 after both of them crossed to the lead on the first corner without insufficient room and duly caused interference to their fellow drivers.
Winnell got 21 days, whilst McDermott had a shocker of a drive causing further and much more severe carnage later in the race and ended up with 28 days (Hares Crossing does seem to be a difficult horse to handle). All I want to point out here is that both of these drivers would be well served in finding that interview with that old champ Kevin Newman that had been uploaded onto the Harnesslink site. Kevin said "Its a CARDINAL SIN to take out another horses front legs ... and there is no excuse for that. I hope the stewards concerned pressed that home because a couple of weeks on the sideline wont. Not until it happens to them, and they have to spend 6 months on the sidelines in an orthopedic ward/rehab unit and they have to reassess their own futures because of injury that could have been avoided because of rash and selfish driving tactics. Come on you young fellas, think about what you are doing out there.
