Archive Decision

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Waikato RC 3 August 2019 – R 7 – Chair, Mr A Dooley

ID: JCA12408

Applicant:
Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Ms A Jones - Class A Rider of FREEWHEELER

Other Person:
Mr B Jones - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A11320

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Careless riding

Rules:
638(1)(d)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Waikato RC - 3 August 2019

Meet Chair:
ADooley

Meet Committee Member 1:
ASmith

Race Date:
2019/08/03

Race Number:
R7

Decision:

As Ms Jones admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.

Penalty:

The Committee grant a deferment to Ms Jones’ suspension pursuant to Rule 1106(2).

Accordingly, Ms Jones had her license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 10 August and conclude after racing on 7 September 2019.

The Committee notes that the race meeting on 1 September at Te Aroha is scheduled for Jump / Highweight and Apprentice Riders only. 

Facts:

Following the running of race 7, BCD Group 2100, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Ms Jones allowed her mount FREEWHEELER to shift out when not sufficiently clear of MISTER GERONIMO near the 1500 metres which clipped a heel dislodging its rider.

Ms Jones said that she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Rule 638(1) (d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be careless.

Mr Jones demonstrated the incident using the available video footage. He identified that Ms Jones angled her mount off the running rail and then continued to shift outwards. In doing so FREEWHEELER was only a bare length clear of MISTER GERONIMO which clipped a heel and dislodged its rider Ms Thornton.

Ms Jones accepted Mr Jones’ interpretation of the incident and added that she made a “silly mistake”.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Williamson said that Ms Jones had a clear record under this Rule in the last 12 months and to her credit she admitted the breach. He advised that Ms Thornton suffered minor injuries when dislodged from her mount. He stated that there was no intent on Ms Jones' part and it was clear that she feels bad for what happened. In conclusion Mr Williamson referred to the JCA Penalty Guide which provides a 4 weeks starting point for a careless riding charge causing a fall.

In response to a question from the Committee, Mr Williamson advised that Ms Jones has had 118 rides in the last 12 months.

Ms Jones requested a 7 day deferment to her proposed suspension so she could fulfil her engagements at Counties RC on 10 August. She asked the Committee to take into account her very good record.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Committee considered all the evidence and submissions presented.

When reviewing the video footage the Committee found that Ms Jones was racing adjacent to the running rail when going over the crossing out of the final straight. Approximately 50 metres after that point Ms Jones angled her mount out 2 horse widths when only 1 length clear of MISTER GERONIMO. As a result that runner clipped a heel, blundered and dislodged its rider Ms Thornton. At the time of the incident MISTER GERONIMO was racing in 3rd position and several horses were hampered when their riders took corrective action to try and avoid Ms Thornton. A horse crossing another horse without being at least its own length and one other clear length in front of such other horse at the time of crossing is a clear breach of the Rules. The “2 length Rule” is designed to protect the safety of horse and rider which is paramount.

The JCA Penalty Guide starting point for careless riding causing a fall is 4 weeks which we adopted.

The Committee deemed the level of carelessness displayed by Ms Jones was mid-range. Balanced against that was Ms Jones’ admission of the breach and her clear record from 118 rides in the last 12 months.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considered that the circumstances of this case warranted a 4 weeks suspension.

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: 591224e83358028dff64691f0b648a5b


informantnumber: A11320


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Careless riding


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 05/08/2019


hearing_title: Waikato RC 3 August 2019 - R 7 - Chair, Mr A Dooley


charge:


facts:

Following the running of race 7, BCD Group 2100, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Williamson, alleged that Ms Jones allowed her mount FREEWHEELER to shift out when not sufficiently clear of MISTER GERONIMO near the 1500 metres which clipped a heel dislodging its rider.

Ms Jones said that she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Rule 638(1) (d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be careless.

Mr Jones demonstrated the incident using the available video footage. He identified that Ms Jones angled her mount off the running rail and then continued to shift outwards. In doing so FREEWHEELER was only a bare length clear of MISTER GERONIMO which clipped a heel and dislodged its rider Ms Thornton.

Ms Jones accepted Mr Jones’ interpretation of the incident and added that she made a “silly mistake”.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Ms Jones admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Williamson said that Ms Jones had a clear record under this Rule in the last 12 months and to her credit she admitted the breach. He advised that Ms Thornton suffered minor injuries when dislodged from her mount. He stated that there was no intent on Ms Jones' part and it was clear that she feels bad for what happened. In conclusion Mr Williamson referred to the JCA Penalty Guide which provides a 4 weeks starting point for a careless riding charge causing a fall.

In response to a question from the Committee, Mr Williamson advised that Ms Jones has had 118 rides in the last 12 months.

Ms Jones requested a 7 day deferment to her proposed suspension so she could fulfil her engagements at Counties RC on 10 August. She asked the Committee to take into account her very good record.


reasonsforpenalty:

The Committee considered all the evidence and submissions presented.

When reviewing the video footage the Committee found that Ms Jones was racing adjacent to the running rail when going over the crossing out of the final straight. Approximately 50 metres after that point Ms Jones angled her mount out 2 horse widths when only 1 length clear of MISTER GERONIMO. As a result that runner clipped a heel, blundered and dislodged its rider Ms Thornton. At the time of the incident MISTER GERONIMO was racing in 3rd position and several horses were hampered when their riders took corrective action to try and avoid Ms Thornton. A horse crossing another horse without being at least its own length and one other clear length in front of such other horse at the time of crossing is a clear breach of the Rules. The “2 length Rule” is designed to protect the safety of horse and rider which is paramount.

The JCA Penalty Guide starting point for careless riding causing a fall is 4 weeks which we adopted.

The Committee deemed the level of carelessness displayed by Ms Jones was mid-range. Balanced against that was Ms Jones’ admission of the breach and her clear record from 118 rides in the last 12 months.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considered that the circumstances of this case warranted a 4 weeks suspension.


penalty:

The Committee grant a deferment to Ms Jones’ suspension pursuant to Rule 1106(2).

Accordingly, Ms Jones had her license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 10 August and conclude after racing on 7 September 2019.

The Committee notes that the race meeting on 1 September at Te Aroha is scheduled for Jump / Highweight and Apprentice Riders only. 


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(1)(d)


Informant: Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Ms A Jones - Class A Rider of FREEWHEELER


Otherperson: Mr B Jones - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: 748896918e0b4f81bcf54ceace54cdde


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R7


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 9957676991d586c3f38c0eefaa066454


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 03/08/2019


meet_title: Waikato RC - 3 August 2019


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: waikato-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: ADooley


meet_pm1: ASmith


meet_pm2: none


name: Waikato RC