Otaki-Maori RC – 9 November 2004 – Race 4

Following the running of Race 4, Mr McCutcheon charged Mr Taylor, the rider of Celia, with careless riding. Mr Taylor did not admit the breach of the rule so the matter proceeded on a defended basis.

Mr Neil Goodwin, Stipendiary Steward, presented the case for the Informant. He called as witnesses Messrs R Stam, the rider of Royal Vixen and J Bullard, the rider of Go Faster. He also had Mr K Hawea, Stipendiary Steward, give evidence, in which he showed video footage of the closing stages of the race from front, rear and side perspectives and gave the Committee his interpretation of them.

The evidence established that, shortly after the field entered the home straight, Ceila was travelling on the outside of Royal Vixen with Go Faster on Royal Vixen's inside. Celia shifted in onto Royal Vixen, which in turn was forced onto Go Faster. Both Royal Vixen and Go Faster were inconvenienced, and in particular the chances of Go Faster were seriously affected.

Mr Taylor did not dispute the facts as outlined. He did dispute evidence that his horse shifted in by more than a horse's width. He thought the inward movement was slight ? less than one horse's width. He also disputed Mr Hawea's evidence that he let his horse dictate the line of the other two for at least 5 strides. He said that it went on for a couple of strides at most until he corrected his mount's direction.

However after considering the evidence, the Committee was satisfied that the charge had been proved. In the Committee's opinion it was quite clear that Mr Taylor allowed his mount to shift in onto Royal Vixen when insufficiently clear.

Mr Goodwin pointed out that Mr Taylor had not committed a breach of the careless riding rule since 18 January 2003. He considered that Mr Taylor's riding record was excellent, especially bearing in mind the number of rides he had. Mr Goodwin also made the point that although there had been severe tightening, the degree of carelessness in this case was not at the highest end and he asked the Committee to deal with the charge by way of a fine.

Mr Taylor said that he would appreciate a fine rather than suspension. He should be given credit for his good riding record and had a number of rides arranged at the premiere meeting starting with Riccarton on Saturday.

The Committee took two matters into account in determining the penalty to be imposed. The first being that it accepted Mr Goodwin's submission that the consequences in this case, especially the interference suffered by Go Faster, far exceeded the actual degree of carelessness exhibited by Mr Taylor which was at the lower end of the scale.

The Committee also took into account Mr Taylor's very impressive race riding record. It considered that Mr Taylor should be given full credit for his good record by being allowed to continue riding notwithstanding this lapse.

Those are the reasons why the Committee decided to deal with Mr Taylor by way of a fine rather than suspension. He was fined $750.00.