Archive Decision

This decision has been migrated from the JCA website. Information is accurate but formatting may differ from contemporary decisions. Please contact us for any further enquiries.

Canterbury JC 15 November 2017 – R 10 – Chair, Prof G Hall

ID: JCA17837

Applicant:
Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Ms A Collett - Licensed Jockey

Other Person:
Mr J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A9536

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excesive use of whip

Rules:
638(3)(b)(ii)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Canterbury Racing - 15 November 2017

Meet Chair:
GHall

Meet Committee Member 1:
SChing

Race Date:
2017/11/15

Race Number:
R 10

Decision:

As Ms Collett admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

Penalty:

Ms Collett is fined the sum of $600.

Facts:

Mr Oatham alleged a breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) in that Ms A Collett used her whip excessively prior to the 100 metres on her mount SHADOWS CAST race 10, the COUPLAND’S BAKERIES MILE.

Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) provides: A Rider shall not:
(ii) strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is excessive

The “Guidelines with Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide:
Without affecting the generality of r 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.

Ms Collett acknowledged she understood the rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Mr Oatham had Mr McLaughlin demonstrate the breach using the videos. He pointed out there were 12 strikes before the 100 metres. There were 2 pushes but not the required pause for 5 strides.

Ms Collett agreed with the Stewards’ assessment.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Oatham produced the respondent’s record, which was clear under this rule since the commencement of the reset period. The starting point under the JCA Penalty Guide was thus a fine of $300. He submitted an increase in the penalty was appropriate to reflect the Group 2 status of the race, which he described as the most important Group 2 race in the South Island. He drew to the Committee’s attention that this had been the practice with respect to breaches of this rule at the premier meeting at Hawkes Bay, recently.

Reasons for Penalty:

New whip guidelines were introduced on 1 August this year and updated penalty guidelines pertaining to whip use came into effect on 1 November.

The updated starting points for breaches of r 638(3)(b)(ii) are:
1st breach $300
2nd breach $500
3rd or subsequent breach 6-8 national riding day suspension.

The respondent has shown poor judgment. There were 12 strikes with only 2 brief pauses. We have regard to the Group 2 status of the race and believe an increased starting point is appropriate.

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: f3dc2dd9c698bcc60bccf0856cedf951


informantnumber: A9536


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excesive use of whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 19/11/2017


hearing_title: Canterbury JC 15 November 2017 - R 10 - Chair, Prof G Hall


charge:


facts:

Mr Oatham alleged a breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) in that Ms A Collett used her whip excessively prior to the 100 metres on her mount SHADOWS CAST race 10, the COUPLAND’S BAKERIES MILE.

Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) provides: A Rider shall not:
(ii) strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is excessive

The “Guidelines with Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide:
Without affecting the generality of r 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.

Ms Collett acknowledged she understood the rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Mr Oatham had Mr McLaughlin demonstrate the breach using the videos. He pointed out there were 12 strikes before the 100 metres. There were 2 pushes but not the required pause for 5 strides.

Ms Collett agreed with the Stewards’ assessment.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Ms Collett admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Oatham produced the respondent’s record, which was clear under this rule since the commencement of the reset period. The starting point under the JCA Penalty Guide was thus a fine of $300. He submitted an increase in the penalty was appropriate to reflect the Group 2 status of the race, which he described as the most important Group 2 race in the South Island. He drew to the Committee’s attention that this had been the practice with respect to breaches of this rule at the premier meeting at Hawkes Bay, recently.


reasonsforpenalty:

New whip guidelines were introduced on 1 August this year and updated penalty guidelines pertaining to whip use came into effect on 1 November.

The updated starting points for breaches of r 638(3)(b)(ii) are:
1st breach $300
2nd breach $500
3rd or subsequent breach 6-8 national riding day suspension.

The respondent has shown poor judgment. There were 12 strikes with only 2 brief pauses. We have regard to the Group 2 status of the race and believe an increased starting point is appropriate.


penalty:

Ms Collett is fined the sum of $600.


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(3)(b)(ii)


Informant: Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Ms A Collett - Licensed Jockey


Otherperson: Mr J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: fcf2bf588bcb2e09c32d4ca8c619f644


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R 10


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 02ab581b4c5b59154155aff297ced645


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 15/11/2017


meet_title: Canterbury Racing - 15 November 2017


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: canterbury-racing


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: GHall


meet_pm1: SChing


meet_pm2: none


name: Canterbury Racing