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Hold your horses: Alberta court to review disqualification in Canadian Derby

Queen’s Bench Justice June Ross is to look at the results of the Aug. 19, 2017, race at Northland’s Park
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A fight over which horse won a Canadian Derby race in Edmonton two years ago is to be heard in court this week.

Queen’s Bench Justice June Ross is to look at the results of the Aug. 19, 2017, race at Northland’s Park.

Chief Know It All was originally declared the winner despite a complaint from the owner of another horse it allegedly fouled.

Ten months later, the Horse Racing Appeal Tribunal disqualified Chief Know It All and named two other horses, Double Bear and Trooper John, as co-winners.

The Tribunal ruled Chief Know It All made contact with another horse and altered the outcome of the race.

Kent Verlik, chief executive officer of Horse Racing Alberta, says it is the second time in the history of the Canadian Derby that a panel of racing judges intervened following a complaint.

“Our stewards didn’t think it impacted the race, so it was kind of a non-event,” said Verlik. “But in appeal, the tribunal overturned the decision of the stewards and then they revised the placing as a result.”

The case echoes last weekend’s surprising Kentucky Derby.

Maximum Security became the first Kentucky Derby winner ever to be disqualified for interference. Country House, a 65-1 long shot, was subsequently named champion.

The Canadian Press