Manawatu HRC – 20 February 2005 – Race 3

Mr B. Taylor denied a charge of careless driving under rule 869(3)(b) in relation to his drive on MARK ANDREW in the Trusts Charitable Foundation and Fraser Memorial Trot.

Mr Taumanu used films of the turn out of the straight to demonstrate that with 800 metres to run Mr Taylor, having been moved out three wide, attempted unsuccessfully to shift SIMON?S SISTER (S. Doody) back down on the track and in doing so caused his horse MARK ANDREW to break.

Mr Taylor's explanation was that his horse was inclined to hang in on the corner and, although he initially tried to keep Mr Doody in, once he realised he was unable to resist SIMON?S SISTER he endeavoured to straighten MARK ANDREW but the horse left its gait in that manoeuvre.

The Committee's view of the films and the evidence is that Mr Taylor took exception to having to yield the second line to Mr Doody and quite unnecessarily sought to force SIMON?S SISTER down on the track conceding only when MARK ANDREW galloped. No corrective action had been taken by Mr Taylor to that point. The charge is therefore proved.

In relation to penalty Mr Taumanu called for a suspension. Mr Taylor indicated his wish to be able to drive MARK ANDREW at Cambridge and possibly Auckland.

The Committee considers Mr Taylor's drive to be so lacking in professionalism and judgement as to warrant a suspension. In settling the terms of that suspension regard has been had to his driving record, the limited number of drives he has, and the probability of him not driving MARK ANDREW at the northern meetings. He is therefore suspended from the close of racing on 20 February 2005 until the close of racing on 6 March 2005.