Rangiora HRC – 12 July 2008 – Race 6

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startdate: 12/07/2008

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hearing_title: Rangiora HRC - 12 July 2008 - Race 6

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DECISION AND REASONS:

Following the running of Race 6, George Calvert Cleaning Ltd Mobile (PBD) Trot, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N R Escott, against Licensed Open Horseman, Mr C P Iggo, alleging that Mr Iggo, as the driver of THE FAT CONTROLLER in the Race, “drove carelessly when shifting in checking AVALON PETITE (R T May) in the run up causing a false start”.

Mr Iggo was present at the hearing of the information and did not admit the breach.

Mr R T May told the Committee that Mr Iggo’s horse had galloped and Mr Iggo had “pulled it down” on top of him a couple of times causing a false start. Mr May said that AVALON PETITE  was back half a length but he was taking his time getting up to the barrier arm. Mr May said that there were eight horses on the front row – he had drawn 6 and Mr Iggo 7. He believed that there was plenty of room between Mr Iggo’s horse and the outside horse (SILVERDALE PRIDE). Mr May said he believed Mr Iggo had pulled the horse down on top of him. The video replay was shown to Mr May. In conclusion, Mr May said that whether or not Mr Iggo was able to stop his horse interfering with AVALON PETITE he did not know. Mr May said that he was unable to get his horse into its position. The starter had called a false start.

The Club’s starter, Mr P R Lamb, stated that there were 8 horses on the front row (for the 2000 metres mobile start event). He had just received the 200 metre call from his assistant. At that point, Mr Iggo’s horse, which had drawn second from the outside, was galloping. It moved in on AVALON PETITE and interfered with that runner. He said he believed that the carts of the two horses became entangled and the drivers were unable to rectify the situation until very close to the starting point. By that time, Mr Lamb said, the inside runners had been inconvenienced by the slowing up of the gate. He called a false start. THE FAT CONTROLLER had moved in on AVALON PETITE while in a gallop and he did not see any effort by Mr Iggo to prevent that happening.

Stipendiary Steward, Mr N G McIntyre, gave his interpretation of the incident with reference to the video replay. He pointed out THE FAT CONTROLLER go into a break. Its head was turned in, preventing AVALON PETITE from taking up its position. He stated that drivers are required to take “all reasonable steps” to ensure their horses are in the correct gait. There was space behind and outside for THE FAT CONTROLLER to be eased into.

Mr Iggo stated that, during the preliminaries, he gave the horse the opportunity to work behind the mobile gate, because the horse does get unsettled. He had had only one previous start from a mobile. The horse did one round behind the mobile in the preliminaries but then became “quite keen” and Mr Iggo desisted. In the run up, the horse got to the gate sooner than Mr Iggo would have liked and broke when his head hit the barrier arm. At that point, Mr Iggo tried to restrain the horse, he stated, but the horse’s head went both to the left and the right while Mr Iggo was trying to keep it straight. He believed that he “acted responsibly” in maintaining his position and keeping clear of other horses.  He submitted that the horse’s head could be seen to the right on two or three occasions as he tried to straighten him up and pull him back. By this stage, the horse was “quite fired up” and the difficulties were brought about by the horse rather than his own actions, Mr Iggo stated. Mr Iggo used the video to illustrate this. The horse was not “comfortable’” and he was trying to restrain a horse that was “under stress” and in a gallop. The horse did not react when he tried to ease it back. Mr Iggo showed that the horse continued to gallop as he was endeavouring to restrain him for some distance after the false start was declared. He described the horse as being “quite rank” and very difficult to drive.

Following a deliberation, the Committee delivered the following oral decision:

“Mr Iggo has been charged with careless driving in shifting in and checking AVALON PETITE, driven by R T May, in the run up to Race 6 causing a false start. Evidence was given to the hearing by Mr May and by the starter, Mr Lamb. It was agreed by both of those witnesses and acknowledged by Mr Iggo that THE FAT CONTROLLER did shift in, while in a gallop, and cause interference to AVALON PETITE inside the final 200 metres of the run up. The issue for the Committee to determine is was that interference caused by the actions of Mr Iggo – in other words, did he drive carelessly in allowing THE FAT CONTROLLER to shift in?

Mr Iggo’s evidence was focused on his horse being fired up, or “rank” to use his own word. He said that he tried to restrain and/or straighten the horse but it was intractable. He said the he tried to avoid interference to Mr May but his horse was fired up to the extent that it would not respond – in other words, the situation was caused by the horse rather than his actions.

It seems to the Committee that the horse, THE FAT CONTROLLER, was clearly fired up and was giving Mr Iggo a difficult drive. I cannot ignore that – it was clear from the video that the horse was fired up. The contribution of the horse rather than Mr Iggo to the interference was quite significant.

I am left with sufficient doubt that the interference was caused by Mr Iggos’ actions to the extent that I am not satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that Mr Iggo drove carelessly and, therefore, the charge of careless driving is dismissed.”

R G McKenzie

CHAIRMAN

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meetdate: 12/07/2008

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