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Whangarei RC 12 October 2016 – R 8 – Chair, Mr A Dooley

ID: JCA14665

Applicant:
Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr C Lammas - Licensed Jockey

Other Person:
Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A7886

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Careless Riding

Rules:
638(1)(d)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Whangarei RC - 12 October 2016

Meet Chair:
ADooley

Meet Committee Member 1:
AGodsalve

Race Date:
2016/10/12

Race Number:
Race 8

Decision:

As Mr Lammas admitted the breach the Committee find the charge proved.

Penalty:

We grant Mr Lammas’ request to seek a deferment to his suspension as per Rule 1106(2).

Accordingly, Mr Lammas had his license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 15 October and conclude after racing on 23 October 2016 (4 North Island days).

That period of suspension encompasses meetings at

19 October Matamata

21 October Counties

22 October Ellerslie

23 October Woodville

Facts:

Following the running of race 8, Harcourts Optimize Group, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Coles, alleged that Mr Lammas permitted his mount OCEAN ROCK to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear crowding SISTERELLA and COTE D’OR which were both checked near the 1000 metres.

Mr Lammas acknowledged that he understood the Rule and confirmed his 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 Oatham demonstrated the incident using the available video footage. Mr Oatham said that Mr Lammas’ mount initially shifted in and away from ROYAL FASHION on its outside however he said at no point when Mr Lammas shifted in was he the required distance clear. He identified that Mr Lammas permitted OCEAN ROCK to go forward and shift in near the 1100 metres. He said this resulted in SISTERELLA who was racing on the inside of OCEAN ROCK being crowded for room. He noted that OCEAN ROCK then continued to shift in crowding COTE D’OR which had to be firmly restrained by Mr Grylls. He said both horses lost ground through the incident.

Mr Lammas confirmed that initially his mount did shift in away from ROYAL FASHION. He admitted that he permitted his mount to roll in but he believed the shift was not abrupt. He said the interference was an error of judgement on his part and felt the incident was made to look worse that it really was because COTE D’OR over reacted when being crowded for room.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Coles produced Mr Lammas' record which showed 2 previous breaches under this Rule in the last 12 months, the most recent being 17 September in a Group 1 race which incurred a 6 day suspension. He said this was a pretty good record for a rider who regularly rides in the Central Districts. He said the level of interference was at the low end. Mr Coles submitted a term of suspension would be an appropriate penalty.

Mr Lammas advised that he had upcoming engagements at Rotorua on 15 October and sought a deferment to any proposed suspension. Mr Lammas requested the Committee consider imposing a 2 day suspension and a fine so he could ride at Ellerslie on 22 October.

In response to a question from the Committee, Mr Lammas admitted that he had no intention of riding at Oamaru on 20 October.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Committee carefully considered all the evidence and submissions presented. The Penalty Guide for Judicial Committees recommends that the starting point for careless riding is a 5 day suspension which is adjusted based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.

The mitigating factors were Mr Lammas’ admission of the breach and his good record in relation to this Rule for which a discount was applied. However, we assessed the level of carelessness was in the low to mid – range given that 2 horses had their chance affected when crowded for room. We note the incident cost each horse at least 2 lengths and a prominent position early in the race. These were deemed to be the aggravating facts.

The Committee rejected Mr Lammas’ request for a suspension / fine combination because not only was it too light it would also be inappropriate. We advised Mr Lammas that there had been a new change in policy for Judicial Committees in relation to these types of penalties.

The Committee was satisfied that Mr Lammas had a recent history of riding in the Central Districts on Industry days.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considers an appropriate suspension was 4 days.

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: a1f8a1dc7331c5de2e4f756700b3e8a7


informantnumber: A7886


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Careless Riding


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 13/10/2016


hearing_title: Whangarei RC 12 October 2016 - R 8 - Chair, Mr A Dooley


charge:


facts:

Following the running of race 8, Harcourts Optimize Group, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Coles, alleged that Mr Lammas permitted his mount OCEAN ROCK to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear crowding SISTERELLA and COTE D’OR which were both checked near the 1000 metres.

Mr Lammas acknowledged that he understood the Rule and confirmed his 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 Oatham demonstrated the incident using the available video footage. Mr Oatham said that Mr Lammas’ mount initially shifted in and away from ROYAL FASHION on its outside however he said at no point when Mr Lammas shifted in was he the required distance clear. He identified that Mr Lammas permitted OCEAN ROCK to go forward and shift in near the 1100 metres. He said this resulted in SISTERELLA who was racing on the inside of OCEAN ROCK being crowded for room. He noted that OCEAN ROCK then continued to shift in crowding COTE D’OR which had to be firmly restrained by Mr Grylls. He said both horses lost ground through the incident.

Mr Lammas confirmed that initially his mount did shift in away from ROYAL FASHION. He admitted that he permitted his mount to roll in but he believed the shift was not abrupt. He said the interference was an error of judgement on his part and felt the incident was made to look worse that it really was because COTE D’OR over reacted when being crowded for room.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Mr Lammas admitted the breach the Committee find the charge proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Coles produced Mr Lammas' record which showed 2 previous breaches under this Rule in the last 12 months, the most recent being 17 September in a Group 1 race which incurred a 6 day suspension. He said this was a pretty good record for a rider who regularly rides in the Central Districts. He said the level of interference was at the low end. Mr Coles submitted a term of suspension would be an appropriate penalty.

Mr Lammas advised that he had upcoming engagements at Rotorua on 15 October and sought a deferment to any proposed suspension. Mr Lammas requested the Committee consider imposing a 2 day suspension and a fine so he could ride at Ellerslie on 22 October.

In response to a question from the Committee, Mr Lammas admitted that he had no intention of riding at Oamaru on 20 October.


reasonsforpenalty:

The Committee carefully considered all the evidence and submissions presented. The Penalty Guide for Judicial Committees recommends that the starting point for careless riding is a 5 day suspension which is adjusted based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.

The mitigating factors were Mr Lammas’ admission of the breach and his good record in relation to this Rule for which a discount was applied. However, we assessed the level of carelessness was in the low to mid – range given that 2 horses had their chance affected when crowded for room. We note the incident cost each horse at least 2 lengths and a prominent position early in the race. These were deemed to be the aggravating facts.

The Committee rejected Mr Lammas’ request for a suspension / fine combination because not only was it too light it would also be inappropriate. We advised Mr Lammas that there had been a new change in policy for Judicial Committees in relation to these types of penalties.

The Committee was satisfied that Mr Lammas had a recent history of riding in the Central Districts on Industry days.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considers an appropriate suspension was 4 days.


penalty:

We grant Mr Lammas’ request to seek a deferment to his suspension as per Rule 1106(2).

Accordingly, Mr Lammas had his license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 15 October and conclude after racing on 23 October 2016 (4 North Island days).

That period of suspension encompasses meetings at

19 October Matamata

21 October Counties

22 October Ellerslie

23 October Woodville


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(1)(d)


Informant: Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr C Lammas - Licensed Jockey


Otherperson: Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: 462fe1913cd24bb1c8ca95b72016bc73


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: Race 8


submittochair:


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meetdate: 12/10/2016


meet_title: Whangarei RC - 12 October 2016


meet_expappcomment:


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tracklocation: whangarei-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: ADooley


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name: Whangarei RC