Archive Decision

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Otago RC 3 March 2013 – R 8 (request for a ruling)

ID: JCA11096

Stipend Steward:
Mr M Davidson

Hearing Type:
Request Ruling

Rules:
632

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Otago RC - 3 March 2013

Meet Chair:
PKnowles

Meet Committee Member 1:
GHall

Race Date:
2013/03/03

Race Number:
R 3

Decision:

Accordingly BARBARA JENNIE is declared a non-starter.

Facts:

Following the running of Race #8 the CLAAS HARVEST CENTRE CROMWELL CUP a request for a Ruling was lodged by Mr M Davidson, Stipendiary Steward, alleging the horse BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start.  The Information (5766) stated that under Rule 632 the judicial committee was asked to ... "determine whether BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start."

Rule 632 states:  If, in the opinion of the Judicial Committee, a horse which does not finish in the first three placings was prevented from taking an effective part in a Race owing to the mechanical failure of starting stalls, or is denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse (but not where the horse is slow away by its own accord.) the Judicial Committee may declare such  horse to be a non-starter.

Submissions for Decision:

Mr Davidson demonstrated the incident with the help of the back straight head-on video and side on video.  He stated BARBARA JENNIE was listed by the Stewards as a 'fractious starter' and required a man up (starter's assistant) when loaded into the stall.  The horse was loaded late and drew five at the stalls.

When the gates opened BARBARA JENNIE reared and was slow out.  However, he stated the horse was being held by the starter's assistant when it reared initially.  The assistant then fell from the barrier stall to the ground.

BARBARA JENNIE missed the start by about six lengths, eventually settling in the rear of the field.

Mr Hannam said he rode the horse in its prior start and while it was fractious in the stalls it only bobbed up and down and was otherwise perfect.  He said as the gates opened the horse reared, only because the starter's assistant was still hanging onto its head.  If the assistant had let its head go it would have been all right, but he had contributed to its rearing up.  Mr Hannam said he did not blame the starter's assistant who was doing his best.

Following a question from Mr Davidson concerning the race day tactics for the horse, Mr Hannam confirmed that he fully intended to seek the lead, having ridden the horse in front at its last start.

Ms Spittles stated the horse was no better with a man up.  She stated the horse would be better off being taken off the fractious starter list.

Reasons for Decision:

For the Ruling to be upheld the judicial committee must be satisfied that BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start other than through its own barrier manners.  After viewing the videos and hearing the evidence from all parties, we are satisfied BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start when the starter's assistant held onto the horse's head as the gates opened.

JCA Decision Fields (raw)

Dmitry: This section contains all JCA fields migrated from the raw data.

Data from these fields should be mapped appropriately to display amongst the standard fields above; please make note of any values below that are missing in the above standard fields but should be there.

hearingid: 1c8679be54e44d7175d991a9205c3333


informantnumber:


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge:


plea:


penaltyrequired:


decisiondate: 19/02/2013


hearing_title: Otago RC 3 March 2013 - R 8 (request for a ruling)


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race #8 the CLAAS HARVEST CENTRE CROMWELL CUP a request for a Ruling was lodged by Mr M Davidson, Stipendiary Steward, alleging the horse BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start.  The Information (5766) stated that under Rule 632 the judicial committee was asked to ... "determine whether BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start."

Rule 632 states:  If, in the opinion of the Judicial Committee, a horse which does not finish in the first three placings was prevented from taking an effective part in a Race owing to the mechanical failure of starting stalls, or is denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse (but not where the horse is slow away by its own accord.) the Judicial Committee may declare such  horse to be a non-starter.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:

Mr Davidson demonstrated the incident with the help of the back straight head-on video and side on video.  He stated BARBARA JENNIE was listed by the Stewards as a 'fractious starter' and required a man up (starter's assistant) when loaded into the stall.  The horse was loaded late and drew five at the stalls.

When the gates opened BARBARA JENNIE reared and was slow out.  However, he stated the horse was being held by the starter's assistant when it reared initially.  The assistant then fell from the barrier stall to the ground.

BARBARA JENNIE missed the start by about six lengths, eventually settling in the rear of the field.

Mr Hannam said he rode the horse in its prior start and while it was fractious in the stalls it only bobbed up and down and was otherwise perfect.  He said as the gates opened the horse reared, only because the starter's assistant was still hanging onto its head.  If the assistant had let its head go it would have been all right, but he had contributed to its rearing up.  Mr Hannam said he did not blame the starter's assistant who was doing his best.

Following a question from Mr Davidson concerning the race day tactics for the horse, Mr Hannam confirmed that he fully intended to seek the lead, having ridden the horse in front at its last start.

Ms Spittles stated the horse was no better with a man up.  She stated the horse would be better off being taken off the fractious starter list.


reasonsfordecision:

For the Ruling to be upheld the judicial committee must be satisfied that BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start other than through its own barrier manners.  After viewing the videos and hearing the evidence from all parties, we are satisfied BARBARA JENNIE was denied a fair start when the starter's assistant held onto the horse's head as the gates opened.


Decision:

Accordingly BARBARA JENNIE is declared a non-starter.


sumissionsforpenalty:


reasonsforpenalty:


penalty:


hearing_type: Request Ruling


Rules: 632


Informant:


JockeysandTrainer:


Otherperson:


PersonPresent: Mr R Hannam - Licensed Jockey, Ms C Spittles - Trainer


Respondent:


StipendSteward: Mr M Davidson


raceid: 1d090a84af4e258dc4bde42a0d13a694


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R 3


submittochair:


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race_km:


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meetid: c2a7af59bc4d6e33efb1404ebf577b23


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


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meet_emailed1: 0


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meetdate: 03/03/2013


meet_title: Otago RC - 3 March 2013


meet_expappcomment:


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tracklocation: otago-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: PKnowles


meet_pm1: GHall


meet_pm2: none


name: Otago RC