That's right Shaun, but as explained, if there was no interference D would have finished 4th anyway.

Mark read my scenario again - I never mentioned B interfering with C at all, I stated D successfully protested against B. You even state yourself that a horse is relegated behind any runner that finished in between therefore in my scenario of D (4th) protesting against B (2nd) then C would be promoted to 2nd, D to 3rd and B relegated to 4th, exactly as I stated.

I was replying to the original question.

Mark, there is nothing in the Australian Rules of Racing that allows the stewards to relegate a horse from equal 3rd position to 4th that has not been directly involved with any protest - it's as simple as that and your friend the steward may not understood the scenario. Perhaps he or yourself can indicate which breach of the rules of racing a horse (or its jockey) in is in breach of in such circumstances. Stewards do not and can not make their own rules on such issues: they can only follow what the rules state and apply them according to their discretion, but there is no discretion if a horse or its jockey is not in breach of any of the rules as is the case in the original question.

Merely relaying what I was told.

Mark

Not saying you are wrong but if i was the owner of that 4th placed horse in a $1,000.000 race i sure would have somthing to say about my horse being dropped from equal third to 4th.....and it wouldn't be plesant

guys 2nd horse goes to 4th protest horse moves to 2nd other stays were it is

I think the U.S. placings would be A, C, B, D. but I'm not totally sure. I have sent the question to a friend who was a placing judge at Hawthorne here in the States. I have never had anyone better at calling a finish at the track with me. Tough in Australia. Here, we have universal colors for post postions, with the riders cap and saddle cloth matching same, which helps a great deal. Weights don't matter; posts are drawn totally at random. Not better, just different. But, I digress. My friend's response to follow later.

Regards,


Glenn

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There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.

Retired or retarded? Much the same. I'm retired...

I think they trialled something like that a little while ago in Melbourne with horse no.1 always having the same colour cap etc etc. It didn't really catch on.

My mate Larry, former placing judge in Chicago, confirms my earlier thinking on the U.S. order of finish, A,C,B,D.


Regards,


Glenn

__________________
There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.

Retired or retarded? Much the same. I'm retired...