Feilding JC – 4 November 2006 – Race 9

hearingid: 7b59b8b749571d88901f98a81ed81705

informantnumber:

horsename:

hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 04/11/2006

newcharge:

plea:

penaltyrequired:

decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Feilding JC - 4 November 2006 - Race 9

charge:

facts:

appealdecision:

isappeal:

submissionsfordecision:

reasonsfordecision:

Decision:

The hearing first held on Saturday the 4th of November was reconvened at the Awapuni Race course on Monday the 13th of November at 1pm. Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr C George read the Rule 866(1)(b), alleging that Jockey B. Fletcher in Race 9 riding WRAPT "fails to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race 

The hearing first held on Saturday the 4th of November was reconvened at the Awapuni Race course on Monday the 13th of November at 1pm. Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr C George read the Rule 866(1)(b), alleging that Jockey B. Fletcher in Race 9 riding WRAPT "fails to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that his horse is given the full opportunity to win the race or to obtain the best possible finishing place and position."

Mr Fletcher was then asked to confirm that he did not admit the breach of the rule, this he did.

The trainer of WRAPT, Mr A Sharrock, requested not to attend the hearing and this was previously agreed to by the J.C.A. Committee. He did send by way of fax the request not to attend and a summary of his instruction to Jockey B Fletcher. His instructions by phone were to ride him at the back of the field, ride for luck, and be careful of WRAPT's tendency to hang in.   He was also instructed not to be excessive with the stick.

Exhibit one - the Sharrock statement was tabled and Mr George asked Jockey Fletcher if his mount felt okay. This was confirmed and a vet report (Ex. Two) was tabled stating the horse had a normal recovery rate and there were no external swellings.

Jockey Fletcher reiterated he had no concern over track conditions and his horse raced kindly. A written transcript of the interview by Stipendiary Steward George after the race on Saturday the 4th of November was produced and excerpts and comments were made from the transcript. At that point the chairman adjourned the hearing to allow Mr Fletcher and the committee to read the transcript as neither party had the opportunity prior to the hearing. Upon the recommencement the available films were shown and Mr George indicated there were three particular parts in the race where he believed Jockey B Fletcher was in breach of Rule 866(1)(b). 

Mr George informed the committee that at the 600 metre mark, WRAPT was up on the inside of UNDER THE THUMB. He told the committee that Jockey Fletcher allowed his mount to lose ground and made no attempt to keep in touch. He was 2 1/2 lengths behind UNDER THE THUMB at a point in the race when WRAPT should have been ridden forward. Mr George informed the committee that part two of the incident occurred at about the 380 metre mark when Jockey Fletcher elected to stay close to the fence and did not endeavour to give his mount a fair run. He let the field get away on him, by not endeavouring to improve.

Part three of the incident Mr George believed happened at about the 180 metre mark where WRAPT was pulled out into the clear and ran home strongly.

The films clearly showed that his finishing run occurred without the whip being drawn. WRAPT finished 1.2 lengths from the winner in 6th place. When asked why he did not draw the whip Jockey Fletcher informed the committee he felt his horse was travelling well, was balanced, and there was no need to do anything else but give the horse a hands and heels ride. He had no need to pull the whip. He was also mindful of what Jockey Michael Walker told him, "Don't hit the horse because it does U turns and runs off the track."

Stipendiary Steward George informed the committee that Jockey Fletcher was obliged to ride with sufficient vigour to give his mount a chance in finishing in the best possible finishing place.

Jockey B Fletcher informed the committee he did not want to view the available films again. He believed he rode WRAPT to the best of his ability taking into account his instructions by phone from the trainer. He felt the horse was travelling well and ran into the race nicely. WRAPT was doing his best work at the finish and was taking ground off the leaders. He felt he was in total control of the horse and there was no need to pull the whip.

In summing up, Stipendiary Steward George told the committee that Jockey B Fletcher had an obligation to ride with sufficient vigour. He believed the films clearly showed that this did not happen. WRAPR was ridden hands and heels with a little urging over the final stages of the race to be only 1.2 lengths from the winner. He said no one would ever know if the horse could have finished closer because it was not ridden out and given that opportunity. The circumstances of the ride would have normally assured that WRAPT would have been given every opportunity of finishing in a higher placing. Mr George reiterated strongly to the committee that he believed that opportunity never occurred because of Jockey Fletchers actions.

International viewers were witnessing and in some cases investing on races from New Zealand and he believed Jockey Fletcher's actions were not what was expected or what was required from a fully-fledged professional jockey. He strongly believed that all permissible and reasonable measures were not undertaken by Jockey B Fletchers ride.

Jockey Fletcher in summing up reiterated that he rode WRAPT to the best of his ability. He felt, in hindsight, that he could possibly have given his mount one or two with the whip, especially when he pulled out to make his run, but felt that as its first run back after a spell the horse was running on well. Mr Fletcher did comment that he had ridden for luck in the home straight. He was just establishing himself as a professional jockey and was just finding his feet, after being away from race riding for a period of time.

Decision and Reason:

The committee carefully considered the evidence placed before it. There were three elements to the charge and the committee revisited each in turn. The committee was of the opinion that WRAPT did lose contact approaching the home bend, at a point in the race when it could be reasonably expected that every endeavour to improve the horses position would be undertaken. This in the committee's opinion did not happen. At about the 380 metre mark, WRAPT was in the committee's opinion, travelling well. There was an opportunity to improve WRAPT's position by moving outwards and mounting a run. Jockey Fletcher elected not to give his mount that opportunity and after Jockey Fletcher did move WRAPT outwards and angle him for a run the committee was  convinced that there was insufficient vigour exercised by Jockey Fletcher in the run to the line.

The head and side on films clearly showed that Jockey Fletcher was the only jockey close to the winning post not having drawn his whip over the final stages. The committee was of the opinion that there was no intent involved in Jockey Fletcher's actions, and believed it was a major error of judgement on his part. In fact the committee believed it was a bad ride. The committee did note that in his submission trainer A Sharrock was happy with the run. However, anyone who had placed a bet on WRAPT would have been, in the committee's opinion, not at all happy with the lack of vigour shown.

In his summary, Jockey Fletcher conceded he could have given him one or two with the whip. The committee reiterates again that there was no intent in his actions, but the opportunity to win or obtain the best possible finishing place was extinguished by Mr Fletcher's ride. The charge was found proven.

Submissions on Penalty:

Mr George asked for a period of suspension. He believed the charge was one of a serious nature. The image of racing and its integrity was paramount and he believed Jockey Fletcher's actions could not be condoned. He believed a fine would not be appropriate and although the records showed that Mr Fletcher had not been charged under this rule, suspension would act as a deterrent as his actions were not what was appropriate. He asked for a period of suspension ranging from between 6 - 10 weeks.

Mr George also informed the committee that Jockey Fletcher was currently suspended until the 2nd of December 2006.

Jockey Fletcher asked the committee to consider that he had not long been back riding,he had never been charged under this rule before and this would be a major dent in his attempt to resurrect his career as a jockey.

Decision on Penalty:

The committee considered all of the matters raised in submissions. While accedpting that Jockey Fletcher had not been charged previously under this rule, they were mindful that he did not admit the breach. The committee believed a period of suspension was appropriate even though Mr Fletcher was resurrecting his career as a professional jockey. His actions, the committee believed, extinguished any chance of WRAPT obtaining the best possible finish. We were mindful of the period of time as asked for by Mr George, however, the committee felt that the length of suspension agreed should reflect the busy racing schedule over the December/Christmas period in the Central Districts area where Mr Fletcher is attempting to relaunch his riding career, and to commence the 2007 calendar year with a clean sheet.

The committee suspended Jockey B Fletcher from race riding after the completion of racing on Saturday the 2nd of December 2006 until the completion of racing on Saturday the 30th of December 2006.

TW Castles                                NM Moffatt

Chairman

sumissionsforpenalty:

reasonsforpenalty:

penalty:

hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 866.1.b

Informant:

JockeysandTrainer:

Otherperson:

PersonPresent:

Respondent:

StipendSteward:

raceid: 0da113115ae329b891c26b3bb83ae2be

race_expapproval:

racecancelled: 0

race_noreport: 0

race_emailed1: 0

race_emailed2: 0

race_title: Race 9

submittochair:

race_expappcomment:

race_km:

race_otherexp:

race_chair:

race_pm1:

race_pm2:

meetid: 4d9c28a572642ec5ae4647d54524df30

meet_expapproval:

meet_noreport: 0

waitingforpublication: 0

meet_emailed1: 0

meet_emailed2: 0

meetdate: 04/11/2006

meet_title: Feilding JC - 4 November 2006

meet_expappcomment:

meet_km:

meet_otherexp:

tracklocation: feilding-jc

meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

meet_chair:

meet_pm1:

meet_pm2:

name: Feilding JC