Canterbury JC 3 August 2019 – R 3 – Chair, Mr R McKenzie
ID: JCA12776
Code:
Thoroughbred
Meet Title:
Canterbury JC - 3 August 2019
Meet Chair:
RMcKenzie
Meet Committee Member 1:
SChing
Race Date:
2019/08/03
Race Number:
R3
Decision:
Mr Hong has admitted the breach and, accordingly, the charge is found proved.
Penalty:
Mr Hong’s application for a deferment of suspension is granted.
Mr Hong’s Apprentice Jockey’s Licence (Class B) is suspended from after the close of racing on Saturday, 10 August 2019, up to and including 23 August 2019 – 10 national riding days.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 3, Brian Wilson 51 Years A Farrier at Riccarton Premier, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr J P Oatham, against Licensed Apprentice Jockey (Class B), Mr B B Hong, alleging that Mr Hong, as the rider of ROCK ISLAND LINE in the race, “used his whip excessively prior to the 100 metres”.
Mr Hong was present at the hearing of the information, assisted by Apprentice Jockey Mentor, Mr D M Walsh. Mr Hong indicated that he understood the charge and that he admitted the breach.
Rule 638 provides as follows:(3) A Rider shall not:
(b) strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is:
(ii) excessive
The “Guidelines With Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide as follows:
Without affecting the generality of Rule 638(3)(b) a rider may be penalised if their whip use is outside of the following guidelines:
Inside the final 600 metres of any Race, official trial or jump-out a horse may be struck with the drawn whip up to five times after which the rider must cease their use of the whip for a minimum of five strides before striking the horse again with the drawn whip, with this restriction to apply prior to the final 100 metres. The whip may then be used at the rider’s discretion until the winning post is reached. Prior to the final 600 metres of a race, official trial or jump-out the use of the drawn whip is acceptable if used in moderation and not continually.
Mr Oatham had Stipendiary Steward, Mr J M McLaughlin, show video replays of the last 600 metres of the race. He pointed out ROCK ISLAND LINE, ridden by Mr Hong, racing in last position in the 13-horse field, being drawn wide by Mr Hong as the field entered the final straight. He then showed Mr Hong commence using his whip shortly thereafter. Mr McLaughlin said that the Committee needed to look at Mr Hong’s use of the whip “in totality” for the length of the straight. Mr Hong had passed one other runner approaching the 200 metres. He continued to use his whip until inside the 100 metres. There was an early five-stride respite, Mr McLaughlin said, but the horse was not making ground. Inside the 200 metres, Mr Hong continued using his whip “well over five times”, and has passed only three other runners, he said. Stewards estimated that Mr Hong had used his whip approximately 30 times in the final straight, Mr McLaughlin said.
Mr Oatham said that Stewards were concerned with the totality of Mr Hong’s whip use – close to 30 times in the final straight, he submitted – on a horse that had only struggled to pass three horses that were being eased down. There was only one break for the full five strides in the home straight, Mr Oatham alleged, and the whip action was so “quickfire” that it was giving the horse no chance to respond to it.
Mr Hong said that he had been conscious of his whip use, so he had counted. He felt that the horse had been responding to his use of the whip. He had trusted the horse to finish on and he himself had tried really hard. He admitted that he had hit the horse “too much”.
Mr Walsh said that the rapid-fire use of the whip had been hard to work out and Mr Hong had clearly breached the rule. He had been riding a well-favoured runner for a North Island trainer which had put extra pressure on him. His ride was not as good as it could have been, Mr Walsh said.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Hong’s record is not a good one, Mr Oatham said. He has had three previous breaches in the last 12 months, all of which have attracted periods of suspension.
30 August 2018 at Ashburton – 8 days
23 December at Tapanui – 6 days
2 June at Otago – 7 days.
This being a fourth breach, a further term of suspension is appropriate, not less than the most recent suspension of 7 days, Mr Oatham submitted.
Mr Walsh conceded that Mr Hong’s record was not good. This is an issue for him and requires attention, he said. He sought a deferment of suspension on Mr Hong’s behalf until after the final day of the meeting on 10 August next. Mr Hong confirmed that he did have rides on both the second and third days of the meeting.
Reasons for Penalty:
The Penalty Guide prescribes a penalty of a 6-8 national riding days suspension for a 3rd or subsequent breach of the rule. This is Mr Hong’s 4th breach in the last 12 months, and the Committee shares Mr Walsh’s concern that Mr Hong’s whip use is a concern for him.
The Committee has taken a starting point in this case of an 8-days suspension for being the 4th breach. We see this breach as being above mid-range having regard to the total number of strikes and that the Committee sees much of that whip use as verging on unnecessary, as the horse had little or no chance, at any stage in the run home, of running into a dividend or stakes-bearing placing, although it did make up some ground in the heavy conditions. The Committee noted that ROCK ISLAND LINE finished in 9th placing, 4.2 lengths from the winner.
Because of the mid-to-high-end nature of the breach, the Committee has uplifted the starting point to 10 days. There are no relevant mitigating factors to be considered.
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: 5714ea15d10ab9fd1b95a4d26bd1421f
informantnumber: A5749
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Excessive Use of Whip
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 06/08/2019
hearing_title: Canterbury JC 3 August 2019 - R 3 - Chair, Mr R McKenzie
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 3, Brian Wilson 51 Years A Farrier at Riccarton Premier, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr J P Oatham, against Licensed Apprentice Jockey (Class B), Mr B B Hong, alleging that Mr Hong, as the rider of ROCK ISLAND LINE in the race, “used his whip excessively prior to the 100 metres”.
Mr Hong was present at the hearing of the information, assisted by Apprentice Jockey Mentor, Mr D M Walsh. Mr Hong indicated that he understood the charge and that he admitted the breach.
Rule 638 provides as follows:(3) A Rider shall not:
(b) strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is:
(ii) excessive
The “Guidelines With Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide as follows:
Without affecting the generality of Rule 638(3)(b) a rider may be penalised if their whip use is outside of the following guidelines:
Inside the final 600 metres of any Race, official trial or jump-out a horse may be struck with the drawn whip up to five times after which the rider must cease their use of the whip for a minimum of five strides before striking the horse again with the drawn whip, with this restriction to apply prior to the final 100 metres. The whip may then be used at the rider’s discretion until the winning post is reached. Prior to the final 600 metres of a race, official trial or jump-out the use of the drawn whip is acceptable if used in moderation and not continually.
Mr Oatham had Stipendiary Steward, Mr J M McLaughlin, show video replays of the last 600 metres of the race. He pointed out ROCK ISLAND LINE, ridden by Mr Hong, racing in last position in the 13-horse field, being drawn wide by Mr Hong as the field entered the final straight. He then showed Mr Hong commence using his whip shortly thereafter. Mr McLaughlin said that the Committee needed to look at Mr Hong’s use of the whip “in totality” for the length of the straight. Mr Hong had passed one other runner approaching the 200 metres. He continued to use his whip until inside the 100 metres. There was an early five-stride respite, Mr McLaughlin said, but the horse was not making ground. Inside the 200 metres, Mr Hong continued using his whip “well over five times”, and has passed only three other runners, he said. Stewards estimated that Mr Hong had used his whip approximately 30 times in the final straight, Mr McLaughlin said.
Mr Oatham said that Stewards were concerned with the totality of Mr Hong’s whip use – close to 30 times in the final straight, he submitted – on a horse that had only struggled to pass three horses that were being eased down. There was only one break for the full five strides in the home straight, Mr Oatham alleged, and the whip action was so “quickfire” that it was giving the horse no chance to respond to it.
Mr Hong said that he had been conscious of his whip use, so he had counted. He felt that the horse had been responding to his use of the whip. He had trusted the horse to finish on and he himself had tried really hard. He admitted that he had hit the horse “too much”.
Mr Walsh said that the rapid-fire use of the whip had been hard to work out and Mr Hong had clearly breached the rule. He had been riding a well-favoured runner for a North Island trainer which had put extra pressure on him. His ride was not as good as it could have been, Mr Walsh said.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
Mr Hong has admitted the breach and, accordingly, the charge is found proved.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr Hong’s record is not a good one, Mr Oatham said. He has had three previous breaches in the last 12 months, all of which have attracted periods of suspension.
30 August 2018 at Ashburton – 8 days
23 December at Tapanui – 6 days
2 June at Otago – 7 days.
This being a fourth breach, a further term of suspension is appropriate, not less than the most recent suspension of 7 days, Mr Oatham submitted.
Mr Walsh conceded that Mr Hong’s record was not good. This is an issue for him and requires attention, he said. He sought a deferment of suspension on Mr Hong’s behalf until after the final day of the meeting on 10 August next. Mr Hong confirmed that he did have rides on both the second and third days of the meeting.
reasonsforpenalty:
The Penalty Guide prescribes a penalty of a 6-8 national riding days suspension for a 3rd or subsequent breach of the rule. This is Mr Hong’s 4th breach in the last 12 months, and the Committee shares Mr Walsh’s concern that Mr Hong’s whip use is a concern for him.
The Committee has taken a starting point in this case of an 8-days suspension for being the 4th breach. We see this breach as being above mid-range having regard to the total number of strikes and that the Committee sees much of that whip use as verging on unnecessary, as the horse had little or no chance, at any stage in the run home, of running into a dividend or stakes-bearing placing, although it did make up some ground in the heavy conditions. The Committee noted that ROCK ISLAND LINE finished in 9th placing, 4.2 lengths from the winner.
Because of the mid-to-high-end nature of the breach, the Committee has uplifted the starting point to 10 days. There are no relevant mitigating factors to be considered.
penalty:
Mr Hong’s application for a deferment of suspension is granted.
Mr Hong’s Apprentice Jockey’s Licence (Class B) is suspended from after the close of racing on Saturday, 10 August 2019, up to and including 23 August 2019 – 10 national riding days.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: 638(3)(b)(ii)
Informant: J P Oatham, Chief Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: B B Hong, Licensed Apprentice Jockey (Class B)
Otherperson: J M McLaughlin, Stipendiary Steward, D M Walsh, Apprentice Jockey Mentor
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 35d65e3f480eba8e00aa37fc519242dd
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meetdate: 03/08/2019
meet_title: Canterbury JC - 3 August 2019
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