Hawkes Bay RI 5 April 2014 – R 5 (request for a ruling)
ID: JCA15238
Code:
Thoroughbred
Meet Title:
Hawkes Bay RI - 5 April 2014
Meet Chair:
NMoffatt
Meet Committee Member 1:
TCastles
Race Date:
2014/04/05
Race Number:
R 5
Decision:
Accordingly we were satisfied that MELS EVIE was denied a fair start and the Judicial Committee declared that horse be a non-starter.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 5, the Dunstan Feeds Autumn Sprint Championship Qualifier, the Stewards requested a ruling in relation to Rule 632 whether MELS EVIE was afforded a fair start.
Rule 632 reads: 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 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:
Race 5 was run over 1200m and MELS EVIE began from barrier number 11, one from the outside. Mr Goodwin showed all the available videos of the start of the race. The head-on view showed that when the gates opened the starter’s assistant had a hold of the horse’s bridle and as the horse reared he still had hold. The side on view demonstrated MELS EVIE losing several lengths as a result of being slow away. Mr Goodwin said it was the opinion of the Stewards that the horse was denied a fair start due to being restrained by the attendant as the start was effected.
Mr Crutchely explained it was well known that MELS EVIE “jiggles around” a little in the starting gates but is usually very quick away. It is also well understood by the starting staff that she dislikes being held or touched around the head region. This was the reason for her rearing up today. Mr Dee said he had ridden this horse before and had never had a problem. He believed today’s incident was due to one of the barrier attendants being new to the job. Mr Phillips said while he was aware that this horse was best left alone he had two new starting assistants who would not have known and were just trying to help.
Reasons for Decision:
The Judicial Committee carefully considered all of the submissions. MELS EVIE could clearly be seen to rear up and lose all chance as the gates opened. Viewing the side on video there was no doubt that she was denied a fair start. Evidence given by Mr Crutchely satisfied us that the horse has a history of misbehaving if held close to the head. The films clearly showed the barrier attendant’s actions and the fact that as the other horses left the barrier the attendant alongside MELS EVIE was still holding onto one of the reins.
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: 79ea716db9a071902c36b92de19ffcac
informantnumber: A4029
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge:
plea:
penaltyrequired:
decisiondate: 07/04/2014
hearing_title: Hawkes Bay RI 5 April 2014 - R 5 (request for a ruling)
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 5, the Dunstan Feeds Autumn Sprint Championship Qualifier, the Stewards requested a ruling in relation to Rule 632 whether MELS EVIE was afforded a fair start.
Rule 632 reads: 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 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:
Race 5 was run over 1200m and MELS EVIE began from barrier number 11, one from the outside. Mr Goodwin showed all the available videos of the start of the race. The head-on view showed that when the gates opened the starter’s assistant had a hold of the horse’s bridle and as the horse reared he still had hold. The side on view demonstrated MELS EVIE losing several lengths as a result of being slow away. Mr Goodwin said it was the opinion of the Stewards that the horse was denied a fair start due to being restrained by the attendant as the start was effected.
Mr Crutchely explained it was well known that MELS EVIE “jiggles around” a little in the starting gates but is usually very quick away. It is also well understood by the starting staff that she dislikes being held or touched around the head region. This was the reason for her rearing up today. Mr Dee said he had ridden this horse before and had never had a problem. He believed today’s incident was due to one of the barrier attendants being new to the job. Mr Phillips said while he was aware that this horse was best left alone he had two new starting assistants who would not have known and were just trying to help.
reasonsfordecision:
The Judicial Committee carefully considered all of the submissions. MELS EVIE could clearly be seen to rear up and lose all chance as the gates opened. Viewing the side on video there was no doubt that she was denied a fair start. Evidence given by Mr Crutchely satisfied us that the horse has a history of misbehaving if held close to the head. The films clearly showed the barrier attendant’s actions and the fact that as the other horses left the barrier the attendant alongside MELS EVIE was still holding onto one of the reins.
Decision:
Accordingly we were satisfied that MELS EVIE was denied a fair start and the Judicial Committee declared that horse be a non-starter.
sumissionsforpenalty:
reasonsforpenalty:
penalty:
hearing_type: Request Ruling
Rules: 632
Informant:
JockeysandTrainer:
Otherperson:
PersonPresent: Mr S Crutchley - Trainer of MELS EVIE, Mr M Dee - Rider of MELS EVIE, Mr G Phillips - Official Starter
Respondent:
StipendSteward: Mr N Goodwin - Stipendiary Steward, Mr L Tidmarsh - Trainee Stipendiary Steward
raceid: 159d7fbd5e6c436f944e005c40f0ec24
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R 5
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: ae4743ead181aaf90b6e546769c10ef6
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 0
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 05/04/2014
meet_title: Hawkes Bay RI - 5 April 2014
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: hawkes-bay-ri
meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing
meet_chair: NMoffatt
meet_pm1: TCastles
meet_pm2: none
name: Hawkes Bay RI