Archive Decision

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Methven TC 13 September 2020 – R 3 – Chair, Mr S Ching

ID: JCA17994

Applicant:
S Renault- Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
C Thornley-Licensed Open Horseman

Information Number:
A13210

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations

Rules:
869(2)-Whip Regulation (b)

Plea:
admitted

Meet Title:
Methven TC - 13 September 2020

Meet Chair:
SChing

Race Date:
2020/09/13

Race Number:
R3

Decision:

As Mr Thornley had admitted this breach of the Rules it was found to be proved in accordance with Rule 1111(1)(d).

Penalty:

Accordingly, Mr Thornley is fined the sum of $200.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 3, the Hornby Workingmen’s Club Mobile Pace, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault against Licensed Open Horseman, Mr C Thornley, alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) in that he used his whip on more occasions than permitted by Clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations.

Rule 869(2) reads as follows:

869 (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.

Whip Regulation (b) reads as follows;

(b) No horseman is permitted to use their whip in a striking motion on more than ten occasions inside the final 400 metres. This is inclusive of “backhanders” and the use applies to the horse, harness and/or sulky.

Mr Thornley had endorsed the Information that the breach was admitted which he confirmed at the hearing. Mr Thornley also acknowledged that he understood the provisions of the charge and the rule it was brought under.

Mr Renault gave evidence and showed video replays of the run home. He pointed out Mr Thornley, driving TICKING OVER, positioned 4 back on the inside as the field passed the 400m. Inside the 400m Mr Thornley drew the whip and used it on 12 occasions prior to the finish line.

Mr Thornley did not dispute the number of strikes and stated that he thought he would be within the rules as he was attempting to adopt the new whip regulation requirements.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Renault stated that Mr Thornley had an excellent record in regard to this rule. Mr Renault stated that the JCA Penalty Guide provides for a $200 fine on the sliding scale for a first offence breach of this rule for 11 to 13 strikes. He submitted that a penalty in line with the sliding scale be considered as penalty.

Mr Thornley elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty.

Reasons for Penalty:

The JCA Penalty Guide provides a $200 fine, mitigation inclusive, on the sliding scale for a first offence of this rule where the strikes are 11 to 13. We deemed that there were no aggravating factors to consider, therefore no uplift in penalty warranted. We therefore determined that a fine of $200, as per the sliding scale for a mid-range breach, was an appropriate penalty in this case.

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: dffddd75d2d2316b8eb7ba4383eded84


informantnumber: A13210


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 14/09/2020


hearing_title: Methven TC 13 September 2020 - R 3 - Chair, Mr S Ching


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 3, the Hornby Workingmen’s Club Mobile Pace, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault against Licensed Open Horseman, Mr C Thornley, alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) in that he used his whip on more occasions than permitted by Clause (b) of the Use of the Whip Regulations.

Rule 869(2) reads as follows:

869 (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.

Whip Regulation (b) reads as follows;

(b) No horseman is permitted to use their whip in a striking motion on more than ten occasions inside the final 400 metres. This is inclusive of “backhanders” and the use applies to the horse, harness and/or sulky.

Mr Thornley had endorsed the Information that the breach was admitted which he confirmed at the hearing. Mr Thornley also acknowledged that he understood the provisions of the charge and the rule it was brought under.

Mr Renault gave evidence and showed video replays of the run home. He pointed out Mr Thornley, driving TICKING OVER, positioned 4 back on the inside as the field passed the 400m. Inside the 400m Mr Thornley drew the whip and used it on 12 occasions prior to the finish line.

Mr Thornley did not dispute the number of strikes and stated that he thought he would be within the rules as he was attempting to adopt the new whip regulation requirements.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Mr Thornley had admitted this breach of the Rules it was found to be proved in accordance with Rule 1111(1)(d).


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Renault stated that Mr Thornley had an excellent record in regard to this rule. Mr Renault stated that the JCA Penalty Guide provides for a $200 fine on the sliding scale for a first offence breach of this rule for 11 to 13 strikes. He submitted that a penalty in line with the sliding scale be considered as penalty.

Mr Thornley elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty.


reasonsforpenalty:

The JCA Penalty Guide provides a $200 fine, mitigation inclusive, on the sliding scale for a first offence of this rule where the strikes are 11 to 13. We deemed that there were no aggravating factors to consider, therefore no uplift in penalty warranted. We therefore determined that a fine of $200, as per the sliding scale for a mid-range breach, was an appropriate penalty in this case.


penalty:

Accordingly, Mr Thornley is fined the sum of $200.


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 869(2)-Whip Regulation (b)


Informant: S Renault- Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: C Thornley-Licensed Open Horseman


Otherperson:


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: f402786617e9ec5df87a398fdd91f41a


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R3


submittochair:


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race_km:


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meetid: b90fb1bd3f999ce1416e2f9900d5a060


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meet_noreport: 0


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meetdate: 13/09/2020


meet_title: Methven TC - 13 September 2020


meet_expappcomment:


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tracklocation: methven-tc


meet_racingtype: harness-racing


meet_chair: SChing


meet_pm1: none


meet_pm2: none


name: Methven TC