Hawkes Bay RI – 2 September 2006 – Race 6

hearingid: 4dcc6e1b62b8acb8eb37818beb6b1405

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 02/09/2006

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decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Hawkes Bay RI - 2 September 2006 - Race 6

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Decision:

Following the running of Race 6, Mr.D.G.Bradley was charged with careless riding under rule 871 (1) (d).

Following the running of Race 6, Mr.D.G.Bradley was charged with careless riding under rule 871 (1) (d). The information alleged that D.G.Bradley the rider of Sputnik shifted outward near the 200 metre mark causing tightening to The Veep ridden by G.McKeon who had to check.

Mr. Bradley did not admit the breach.

Mr. George called on Mr. Goodwin to outline the alleged incident by way of video. Mr. Goodwin identified Mr. Bradley riding Sputnik and outside of him a horse called The Veep ridden by Gavin Mckeon. As the two runners straightened for home there was some movement between them however Mr. Goodwin identified this as just being competitive riding by both men. Mr. McKeon, on the outside, was holding his line attempting to keep Mr. Bradley in but Mr.Bradley forced his way out causing interference to The Veep.

Mr George concurred with Mr. Goodwin and told the committee that there were two types of riding involved in the incident. There was Mr. McKeon showing competitive riding and Mr. Bradley showing careless riding. He said that at all times Mr. McKeon was trying to maintain his rightful line of running. Mr. Bradley was beside him on the inside but could not go forward because he was held up behind the top weight Miles (D.Walsh). Passing the 200 metres Mr. Bradley shifted out onto The Veep taking its rightful line of running and ending up directly in front of it.

Mr.George called Mr.Mckeon as a witness. Mr. McKeon agreed that Mr. Bradley had taken his line of running causing him to make contact with a horse on his outside. He had no way of maintaining his position due to Mr. Bradley moving out. Mr McKeon, responding to a question from Mr Bradley, admitted that he was trying to hold Mr Bradley in a pocket. Mr George asked Mr Bradley if there was ever room for him to improve around Miles without causing interference to The Veep. Mr Bradley conceded that there was not.

Mr.Bradley told the committee that his horse was traveling the better and that Mr.McKeons mount was under pressure. It was his opinion that the riding was competitive and he was trying to make his own gap as kindly as possible. He said riders must give their horses every opportunity and are expected to do so by the betting public. The Veep was a battling runner and Mr. McKeon was never in any danger from the interference he received.

The committee looked at the films at great length and listened to all the submissions put before it.

It was clear from all the video angles that Mr.Bradley moved out when not clear of The Veep and took that horse's rightful line of running. Mr McKeon's evidence supports this and Mr.Bradley himself told the committee that he was "trying to make his own gap". The rules of racing do not allow Mr.Bradley to do so but require a rider to be two lengths clear when crossing in front of another runner.

The committee found the charge of careless riding proved.

Mr George's submissions to the committee included producing Mr.Bradley's riding record.

He has had two suspensions and one warning in the last twelve months. One of these was for 3 weeks after his ride on Vienetta at Te Aroha.

Mr.George considered Mr.Bradley's riding record to be particularly poor and one that needed to be highlighted. He also asked the committee to consider the degree of carelessness shown by an experienced rider.

He said that jockey safety is paramount and that incidents like this need to be addressed. He recommended a period of suspension of between two to three weeks.

Mr Bradley conceded that while he had been careless he believed that it was towards the lower end of the scale. He said that it looked worse than it was due to Mr. McKeon riding competitively and holding him in.

Mr Bradley said he was not aggressive when he pushed out but rather the incident was of a progressive nature.

In coming to a decision on penalty the committee had careful regard to all of the submissions put before it.

We took into account that Mr.Bradley is a busy senior rider and, in light of this, his riding record, while not perfect, was not deemed to be poor.

Mr. George is correct in saying that safety of riders is paramount and Mr. Bradley threw caution to the wind when he made his own gap in the race.

The breach of the rule must be met with a period of suspension and having regard to the premier status of the day with higher stakes on offer (rule 1122 (2) ) the committee suspended Mr. Bradley from the conclusion of racing on Wednesday 6^th September until the conclusion of racing on Wednesday 20^th September.

N.Moffatt (Chairman)                                                  T.Castles

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 871.1.d, 1122.2

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raceid: 7c1fa53ed904223beba83f73ec7eae3b

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racecancelled: 0

race_noreport: 0

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race_title: Race 6

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meetid: e9cae0b832d530b515649c7b97790cd5

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meetdate: 02/09/2006

meet_title: Hawkes Bay RI - 2 September 2006

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tracklocation: hawkes-bay-ri

meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

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name: Hawkes Bay RI