Avondale JC – 22 December 2004 – Race 8

Information 5167 alleged a breach of Rule 530(2)(b) by apprentice jockey Jamie Baillie for using the whip in an excessive manner on his mount LE MULE in race 8.

The breach was admitted and being an apprentice his interests were represented by jockey Peter Johnson.

The incident was demonstrated on video by Mr Coles who asked the Committee to note that Mr Baillie had used the whip vigorously for 20 times on his mount LE MULE from the top of the straight to the 200 metre mark which was not in accordance with the guidelines. He told the Committee that this was the first time Mr Baillie had been charged under this rule, but he had been warned before at Tauranga. It was accepted that the breach was admitted, it was a first offence and Mr Baillie had been up front in accepting he had breached the rule. However, he believed a suspension was appropriate in light of the above.

Mr Baillie asked the Committee to take into consideration that he had only 43 rides this season and averaged one ride a week. He had an engagement for Tauranga on Monday 27 December and asked the Committee to delay any suspension to enable him to ride on this date.

Mr Johnson urged the Committee to exercise its discretion as requested in view of this and Mr Baillie's personal circumstances.

After taking these matters into consideration the Committee determined that it would not be appropriate to delay the suspension and given the meetings coming up over the holiday period Mr Baillie would have more than usual opportunities to make up for the loss of a ride. Accordingly it was ordered that he be suspended from the conclusion of racing on 26 December 2004 until the conclusion of racing on 29 December 2004, a period involving three days.