Race 3 at Menangle tonight

[smithy]

i dont understand how you think you have a better understanding of how the COT rule is to be used then the stewards panel

[triplev123]

Hahahahaha. Now you're just being truculent Smithy...but thanks for the laugh. Most appreciated.

[Love Of Courage]

Hello Hello,

What would happen with this scenario. Trainer has new horse in stable and for the first 4 starts horse is restrained from wide barrier back to last with a cracking pace on upfront. Storms home each time for various wins and placings.

At the 5th start horse has wide barrier again and driver drops back horse to last. Pace is very slow so driver zips round the field to lead and wins the race. Driver uses initiative realising horse would find it hard to win from last with such a slow pace. Would driver then be fined even if he was trying to give horse the BEST possible chance to win race.

I can see both sides of the arguement but to be fined for giving your horse the best possible chance "Winning" seems wrong to me. The only time I have concerns with races is with several stable runners in the race and "Team Driving".

To me this causes the most problems with punters. Look at the Auckland Reactor race where he was attacked by the Small stable runner Awesome Ambro for the entire race, seemingly to assist other stable runner Changeover.

[Flashing Red]

The sad thing is the change in tactics rule is being used in an effort to combat team driving. But they are different offences completely. A select few have ruined it for everyone. Stewards should pull people up for TEAM DRIVING. It is obvious when people are team driving. Why pull up someone up for trying to win a race as has appeared to happen on a few occasions now? Sometimes a race doesn't turn out as anticipated, why cannot drivers make split second decisions? This comment is not directed to anyone or any incident in particular, just a general observation based on a number of states. I applaud any sort of enforcement of the rules by stewards, just think things aren't really as consistent as they could be at the moment...

[triplev123]

I agree re: the team driving aspect but the rest of that post is being way too kind Flashing.
The problem is that the interpretation & subsequent enforcement of the rule has been about as reliable as a Taiwanese Rolex. The decision is made on the spot by Luke to drive Roman Stride a little differently than normal, the horse still goes on and wins the race regardless & yet the Stewards STILL see fit to fine him for the drive? I've seen some ridiculous rulings over the years but that one takes the cake.

[Don Corleone]

Team Driving is so obvious and in a perfect world the rules would be enough. However the interpretation and enforcement sometimes does is take away a "edge" that a driver can get in a spilt second at anytime of the race. To fine Luke for that drive was........madness.

[mango]

Hi Don

I agree that team driving is obvious and that should be stamped out and driver's given serious time. On the change of tactics i reckon that should be between the driver/trainer/owner and if they want to spring a surprise and lead good luck to them, why should they notify the stewards only for them to announce it for the other driver's to hear what they are going to try and do. They say it's for the punter's but i never hear Wayne Bennet giving his game plan to the opposition before a game.

[smithy]

but he has to release accurate information on the side he will be playing (which is obviously very important to the games integrity due to it pretty much dictating the games tactics and chances of victory)..only have to look at the bulldogs, collingwood and the andrew johns - eddy hayson plunge to see how it can be abused... it is exactly the same in the trots, any significant information that will affect a horses performance should be conveyed to the public - the trots already have a bad enough image without encouraging obfuscation...

[mango]

Hi Smithy

I can see your point, so i suppose the only way around it would be for the driver to go to the stewards before the race and let them know there could be a change of tactics if the race permit's that way it covers you either way.

[triplev123]

but he has to release accurate information on the side he will be playing (which is obviously very important to the games integrity due to it pretty much dictating the games tactics and chances of victory)..only have to look at the bulldogs, collingwood and the andrew johns - eddy hayson plunge to see how it can be abused... it is exactly the same in the trots, any significant information that will affect a horses performance should be conveyed to the public - the trots already have a bad enough image without encouraging obfuscation...

C'mon Smithy, be reasonable.
How in Blue Blazes can he release accurate information BEFORE he decides to do something????????
If a Driver makes a last moment change of tactics decision at the start or soon after the start of or during a race and he drives the horse differently than he normally would and he still wins the race...then how is it right that he gets fined??????? If he stiffs the horse or the decision results in the horse being beaten then maybe the Stewards have got a case...but how can it be reasonable that Luke or anyone else be fined when he/they have obviously made a winning decision? The more I think about this the more ridiculous it becomes. The change of tactics rule should be thrown out completely if it cannot be administered correctly.