Manawatu HRC 29 October 2019 – R1 – Chair, Mr T Utikere
ID: JCA17123
Meet Title:
Manawatu HRC - 29 October 2019
Meet Chair:
TUtikere
Race Date:
2019/10/29
Race Number:
R1
Decision:
Miss Harrison has admitted the breach.
Penalty:
Miss Harrison's licence is suspended from the close of racing on 29 October until the close of racing on 8 November 2019.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 1 (Central Energy Trust Handicap Trot 2500m), Information A10274 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 869(3)(g) and stated that "...she drove in a manner which diminished the chances of her mare winning by miscounting the rounds racing through the front straight to receive the bell".
Miss Harrison confirmed she understood the rule and admitted the breach.
Using the side on film, Mr Mulcay explained that Miss Harrison (SUNDONS FLYER) was in the one-one position, following Mr D Butcher outside the leader. As the field approached the 1100 metres, Mr Butcher had urged his drive along, seeking to go to the front. Miss Harrison had come off his back, used her whip to strike the mare and activated the deafeners. He submitted it was clear that she had miscounted the rounds and the basis for the charge was that the efforts of the mare had a diminished effect for the remainder of the race. He also identified that SUNDONS FLYER had finished third, being 4.9 lengths off the winner, and 4.5 lengths in arrears of second place.
When invited for comments on the incident, Miss Harrison said that she had simply panicked. Mr Mitchell had nothing to say.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Mulcay identifed the JCA Penalty Guidelines starting point for this offence as a 15 drives suspension or a $750 fine. He said that to Miss Harrison's credit she had been frank with her admission, had a clear record under the rule and that the horse still ran into third position. In aggravation he submitted that punters had invested on the runner as it started favourite, and that they were at a disadvantage as a result. He submitted a four day period of suspension as appropriate, bearing in mind her employer was likely to have a sizeable team at the upcoming Cambridge Meetings.
Miss Harrison said that she had driven on approximately 350 ocassions, and Mr Mulcay confirmed that she had 32 drives this season. She had only been in the judicial room on one previous ocassion and was happy with a four day suspension, as she believed this to be a fair penalty. Mr Mitchell had nothing to say.
Reasons for Penalty:
Any suggestion that Miss Harrison failed to miscount the rounds is dispelled when the side-on film is viewed. It shows her lapse in a compelling fashion. While she is a junior driver, she nonetheless has adequate experience to not make such a fundamental error. Both parties submit a four day suspension as appropriate. Her clear record and admission must be balanced with the fact that her actions meant that it was possible that SUNDONS FLYER may have finsihed in a better position if it had not been spent with another round to go. Miss Harrison has had five drives at this meeting and would have a similar amount on the second night as well. When looking at her commitments for the next three to four Meetings, I consider a four Meeting suspension as appropriate. Those Meetings will be the second day at Manawatu, followed by Auckland then the two Cambridge Meetings.
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: cf5c54181ae399c07760cd20e8604680
informantnumber: A10274
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Drove in manner which diminished chances
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 29/10/2019
hearing_title: Manawatu HRC 29 October 2019 - R1 - Chair, Mr T Utikere
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 1 (Central Energy Trust Handicap Trot 2500m), Information A10274 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 869(3)(g) and stated that "...she drove in a manner which diminished the chances of her mare winning by miscounting the rounds racing through the front straight to receive the bell".
Miss Harrison confirmed she understood the rule and admitted the breach.
Using the side on film, Mr Mulcay explained that Miss Harrison (SUNDONS FLYER) was in the one-one position, following Mr D Butcher outside the leader. As the field approached the 1100 metres, Mr Butcher had urged his drive along, seeking to go to the front. Miss Harrison had come off his back, used her whip to strike the mare and activated the deafeners. He submitted it was clear that she had miscounted the rounds and the basis for the charge was that the efforts of the mare had a diminished effect for the remainder of the race. He also identified that SUNDONS FLYER had finished third, being 4.9 lengths off the winner, and 4.5 lengths in arrears of second place.
When invited for comments on the incident, Miss Harrison said that she had simply panicked. Mr Mitchell had nothing to say.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
Miss Harrison has admitted the breach.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr Mulcay identifed the JCA Penalty Guidelines starting point for this offence as a 15 drives suspension or a $750 fine. He said that to Miss Harrison's credit she had been frank with her admission, had a clear record under the rule and that the horse still ran into third position. In aggravation he submitted that punters had invested on the runner as it started favourite, and that they were at a disadvantage as a result. He submitted a four day period of suspension as appropriate, bearing in mind her employer was likely to have a sizeable team at the upcoming Cambridge Meetings.
Miss Harrison said that she had driven on approximately 350 ocassions, and Mr Mulcay confirmed that she had 32 drives this season. She had only been in the judicial room on one previous ocassion and was happy with a four day suspension, as she believed this to be a fair penalty. Mr Mitchell had nothing to say.
reasonsforpenalty:
Any suggestion that Miss Harrison failed to miscount the rounds is dispelled when the side-on film is viewed. It shows her lapse in a compelling fashion. While she is a junior driver, she nonetheless has adequate experience to not make such a fundamental error. Both parties submit a four day suspension as appropriate. Her clear record and admission must be balanced with the fact that her actions meant that it was possible that SUNDONS FLYER may have finsihed in a better position if it had not been spent with another round to go. Miss Harrison has had five drives at this meeting and would have a similar amount on the second night as well. When looking at her commitments for the next three to four Meetings, I consider a four Meeting suspension as appropriate. Those Meetings will be the second day at Manawatu, followed by Auckland then the two Cambridge Meetings.
penalty:
Miss Harrison's licence is suspended from the close of racing on 29 October until the close of racing on 8 November 2019.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: Rule 869(3)(g)
Informant: Mr S Mulcay - Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: Miss A Harrison - Junior Driver
Otherperson: Mr T Mitchell - Assisting Miss Harrison
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 1b6d809bae0a0354e33d89de9791a5a9
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R1
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: dd9c51f4a96feab4ff15620745042831
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 0
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 29/10/2019
meet_title: Manawatu HRC - 29 October 2019
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: manawatu-hrc
meet_racingtype: harness-racing
meet_chair: TUtikere
meet_pm1: none
meet_pm2: none
name: Manawatu HRC