A new era in racial interference adjudication is coming to North America next week.
In February, the Oklahoma Equestrian Commission (OHRC) became the first to announce its intention to adopt new intervention rules based on the Type 1 intervention philosophy applied across the vast majority of the developed world of motorsport. develop.
The rule changes have since been passed by the Oklahoma legislature and governor, and will be implemented statewide starting Wednesday, September 14 in Remington Park.
“This is an exciting move,” said Patrick Cummings, Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF).
“We are now one step closer to harmonizing the global rules around race intervention and I predict we will see both an increase in decision-making consistency and a reduction in those What many believe, including administrators, is unfair removal due to the way in which the rules of many states are written.”
The TIF has been advocating for states to consider transitioning to a Type 1 standard since 2018, publishing a white paper (“Change the Rule”) later that year.
These new intervention rules for Oklahoma will change the way managers determine whether to warrant dismissal.
Under the old rules, following the philosophy known as Type 2, if a horse interferes with an opponent at almost any time during the race and the managers believe the interfered horse can be valuable Better yet, the horse causing the interference can be demoted and placed behind the interfered horse.
With the Type 1 philosophy, the question the manager considers involves intervention changes.
If managers determine that an interference occurred, they must now determine if the interfered horse finished before the horse that caused the interference, if the incident never occurred.
Training Oklahoma Managers
While the Class 1 philosophy has been hotly discussed in seminars organized by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, the primary accrediting body for most North American managers, some active have ever received formal training or instruction on how to interpret the rules.
Kelly Cathey, CEO of OHRC, reached out to a top source he could find to oversee the training of Oklahoma’s racing managers, requesting assistance from the Club’s Director of Operations. Hong Kong Jockey set, Kim Kelly.
“I met Kim in Saratoga in the summer of 2019 when he talked extensively about Tier 1 at several meetings and really had to think about the possibilities as we updated our rules.”
Kim Kelly has served as chair of the International Harmonized Commission on Equestrian Rules (IHRRC) for the International Federation of Horse Racing (IFHA) and assisted several major racing jurisdictions in the transition. In the century.
“When it comes to identifying the right people to train our managers,” says Cathey, “Kim is the perfect fit, and we are honored to have someone with his expertise lead the sessions.” .
Kelly and his colleague, trust manager Ken Kwok, led a series of Zoom meetings that looked at Category 1 procedures and in them dozens of races, both from Oklahoma, Hong Kong, and jurisdictions Other reasons have been viewed and discussed.
“We also had a number of guests from other states and representatives from the ROAP who attended the sessions to understand the direction of this activity,” Cathey said. “Oklahoma is excited to be the first in the US to go down this path and I think all stakeholders will appreciate the consistency this will bring to the arbitration of races.”
For Kim Kelly, assisting a North American jurisdiction in transition is the culmination of years of pursuing global harmonization of the rules of intersection.
“It has been an honor to be asked to assist the Oklahoma Equestrian Commission in its transition to a Category 1 intervention interpretation. From the very first meeting, I was impressed and encouraged by the receptivity of the participants. Management and Commission staff in making this change Kelly said.
“A US state’s decision to move to Category 1 represents significant progress in international harmonization of an important rule of racing. Standardized rules significantly impact those who book. Betting and industry participants, such as owners, is something IHRRC has been doing for many years.
“The move by OHRC follows from the Japan Racing Association in 2013, both France Galop and Germany in 2017, as well as all South American jurisdictions that have transformed in those years and I Wouldn’t be surprised if more North America followed Oklahoma’s lead.
“I would like to acknowledge the significant drive and determination of OHRC CEO Kelly Cathey to ensure that the change to Class 1 in Oklahoma is a success.
“The IHRRC will continue to provide additional support as needed to make the transition to Category 1 as smooth as possible.”
Key element of hazard prevention for safety
Expectations for Category 1 rollout include a reduction in the number of layoffs that have previously occurred in jurisdictions transitioning to Category 1, including Japan, France, and Germany.
“The question that managers consider,” said Cummings, “is quite different. Managers must be satisfied that if interference occurs, the interfered horse will finish before the horse that caused it. . While it’s impossible to say how many, that standard should reduce the overall number of downgrades in Oklahoma and other states going forward.”
The data presented in the 2018 TIF article reflected a total of 65 races across races run by the Japan Racing Association over the past three years the country operated under Category 2 rules. In 5 the next year, there were only 11 dismissals.
“However, the Category 1 rules are not a license for dangerous riding,” adds Cummings, “and important Oklahoma passed a provision to address incidents in which motorists horses go in a dangerous way.”
Here is the wording of the rule Oklahoma has adopted:
“If the Steward determines a Horse or its rider has interfered and finished before the Horse it interfered with, and if it were not for the interference the Horse ended up behind the Horse it interfered with, obstacle, the Obstacle Horse will be placed immediately after the Horse it hinders. If the obstruction is the result of dangerous riding, the Manager will place the Obstructing Horse in last place.”
The OHRC has defined “dangerous riding” as follows:
“Dangerous riding” means that a rider causes a serious offense by: (A) intentionally interfering with another horse or rider; or (B) riding in a manner that is far removed from that of a competent and careful rider and where a competent and careful rider can be clearly seen that riding in such a manner may endanger the safety of the rider. safety of a horse or other rider. “
The “dangerous riding” addendum is intended as an aggregate clause — if a dangerous equestrian thinks they can’t be demoted, or even completely disqualified, and be treated as if they were. they got to the finish line, think again. Management is empowered to have that option if it is necessary.
“The jurisdictions that have moved from Category 2 to Category 1 over the past decade have not had any increase in dangerous driving incidents,” said Kim Kelly. “There’s this provision in the rule, which largely reflects the dangerous riding component of the model rule contained in the IFHA’s International Agreement on Livestock, Racing and Wages, providing managers with a tool necessary if it is required.”
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