Smedshammer granted stay

Harnessracing.com has received confirmation that Trond Smedshammer has asked for and was granted a stay of his 30-day suspension that was scheduled to have begun Monday imposed by the New Jersey Racing Commission for his drive behind Here Comes Herbie in the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Aug. 5.

Smedshammer trained three Hambletonian starters and was driving Here Comes Herbie himself when that one came off the pylons in mid-stretch, allowing stablemate Blue Mac Lad and driver George Brennan to rally up the inside to a third-place finish. Smedshammer was subsequently suspended by the Racing Commission following a hearing Aug. 21, for allowing Blue Mac Lad to "needlessly pass on the inside, which constitutes what is properly known as helping...(and) driving in a careless manner which affected the outcome of the finish."

Smedshammer's penalty was scheduled to begin Aug. 28 and run through Sept. 26. The next step for Smedshammer following the granting of his stay will be a hearing before a New Jersey administrative law judge. The judge would then make a ruling, which could either be adopted, rejected or modified by the Racing Commission.

« Back