Horse breaks before wire. No DQ?
 

Can someone please explain this to me. Meadowlands 1/11/19 race #12 Sergeant Seelster on the lead and breaks clearly before the wire. Results Stand! Explanation from stewards is : "horse was off stride 3 or 4 strides before the wire and driver grabbed up and he loses ground - sufficient ground while on a break and fully complies will all aspects of the breaking rule. Thank you.

USTA Official rule book here
http://www.ustrotting.com/pdf/USTARuleBook.pdf

Sec 18.13

Breaking at the wire is in itself not a ore-requisite for a DQ.

A lapped on break is an auto DQ ( at least should be though I saw one at Pocono last year the judges clearly missed)

Breaking a few steps before the wire is ok provided the driver snatches up and loses ground. If they have a big enough lead that id doable without being lapped on.