Is being Roughgaited the same as Breaking Stride?

[Harness Stats]

There is an announcer host on TVG on Monday nights (initials PL) who when a horse makes a full break in stride ALWAYS says they "Roughgaited" and NEVER says made a break or went offstride. Every time he does this I want to throw something at the TV. Because of that and other weird stuff he says it got to the point that nowadays when I'm watching and he's on I just shut off the volume.

So ....  Is he correct?  I've never heard any track announcer of any race in thousands and thousands that I've watched ever say that when the horse is obviously on a break. They just say offstride or on a break or sometimes on a gallop. Sometimes a horse gets roughgaited and then breaks stride which is announced properly but thats not what I'm referring to.

I don't know the exact rule but I thought that there is nothing illegal about racing roughgaited. As far as I understand it roughgaited just means their stride is rough or steppy and not smooth.  I remember when Wiggle It Jiggle It was great a few years ago he always looked roughgaited until he got into his full powerfull stride. 

Any opinions or knowledge about this out there?

[AGUA CALIENTE]

In my interpretation of the rules, rough gaited horse never made a break, but depends on the Stewards.

[Harness Stats]

Ok ... so I guess they are not the same.

By the lack of response it looks like nobody else here watches TVG Mondays when they show the early Western Fair, Yonkers, and Woodbine Mohawk Races and this guy is live on air, or noone cares or gets annoyed that this supposedly knowledgable host (he did co host the Breeders Crown show at Hoosier 2 years ago and other major events there more recently) is allowed to spout nonsense and misuse common terminology.

[Carnival People]

In my interpretation of the rules, rough gaited horse never made a break, but depends on the Stewards.

The difference between "rough-gaited" and "off stride"  depends on which judge bet how much on which horse.   This was always a huge problem at yonkers where the judges are mobsters.

[Fatboy]

ROUGH GAITED FOR US MEANT HE HAD TO BE TAKEN IN HAND

[Rabbi Of Racing]

At my age,I'm rough gaited 

[Racing Troll]

At my age,I'm rough gaited 

and you are double gaited     

[LUCPARK]

ROUGH GAITED YOU BLAME THE DRIVER

OFF STRIDE SOMETHING IS USUALLY PINCHING THE HORSE THATS CAUSES HIM TO GO OFFSTRIDE BLAME THE VET

,,THTS WHAT FAMOUS HOF TRAINERS HAVE TOLD ME

[bigwrench]

and you are double gaited     

no but your Daddysure was!
_he was mayor Petes play toy

[Harness Stats]

I'm obviously not reaching my intended audience.  Any disgruntled Monday night TVG viewers out there?

[Powerful Patricks Ghost]

Presumably PL=Peter Laurie?

[Harness Stats]

Agreed. Do you remember the time he visibly got angry with JBo back when she was working for the Meadowlands one Saturday night a few years ago. I've never heard a TV host treat a correspondent like that before or since. I don't remember what it was about but it really got my attention at the time.

[LUCPARK]

Pete  Laurie pretty knowledgeable.

You may not agree but he’s no dummy

[Harness Stats]

 Knowledgeable about what?  How to comb his hair and speak because he has a good voice.  What he says is total nonsense.