Thu, June 4, 2020

Race 3 - Stewards’ inquiry into the running of race 3. Inside the vicinity of the 3/16th pole, the #2 Big Thicket (Irad Ortiz Jr.) while running up on # 6 Foolish Ghost (Romero Maragh) moves out making contact with the #3 Bustin Shout( Kendrick Carmouche)who was turning his horse’s head into # 2 Big Thicket . After reviewing the video and speaking to the affected riders, the stewards did not believe the outcome of the race was affected and the race was made official as is: 2-3-6-8.

Following formal film review of the race with the relevant riders, the stewards issued the following ruling against jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

With regard to interference, New York is a “Category 2” state, meaning that Commission rules provide that if the interferer is guilty of causing interference and such interference in the judgment of the Stewards has altered the finish of the race, then the interferer is placed behind the offended horse. The Stewards consider whether the riders of the horse or horses that are offended continue to give effort to the finish of the race. The Stewards also consider whether the offending jockey acted in a willful or careless manner while interfering with another horse or jockey, for which the interferer may be disqualified, i.e., placed last or unplaced in the order of finish. For example, if an offending jockey acts in a dangerous manner, exhibits extremely improper riding or impedes several horses, the Stewards may disqualify the offending horse without regard to the specific effect of the foul on the order of finish.