Racing Te Aroha – 19 December 2007 – Race 3

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 19/12/2007

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hearing_title: Racing Te Aroha - 19 December 2007 - Race 3

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Mr A Coles Stipendiary Steward alleged a breach of Rule 866(1)(c) by Mrs T Thornton in that being the rider of PRIMA DONNA she failed to ride her mount out to the end of the race when this horse had a reasonable chance of running second.

Mr A Coles Stipendiary Steward alleged a breach of Rule 866(1)(c) by Mrs T Thornton in that being the rider of PRIMA DONNA she failed to ride her mount out to the end of the race when this horse had a reasonable chance of running second. Ms T.Thornton did not admit a breach of this rule. PRIMA DONNA was placed third and the margin between second and third was a nose.

Mr Oatham Stipendiary Steward demonstrated on the side-on video from the 200 metre mark the ride of T Thornton with the use of the whip until three strides short of the winning post she relaxed her ride on PRIMA DONNA and in doing so finished third, a nose away from the second placed horse PUFFDIDI, ridden by L.Cropp. Mr Oatham stated that having ridden vigorously in the straight and using the whip changed her style of riding three strides off the post. On the head-on video Mr Oatham stated that it was necessary to straighten PRIMA DONNA initially but that PRIMA DONNA maintained a straight line to the post.

Rider MrsT Thornton disagreed with Mr Oatham's assessment of her ride and stated that her mount was tiring and not responding to the whip, so she put her whip away and she used her hands to urge her mount to the post in order to do the best thing for the horse. In doing so over the last three strides PRIMA DONNA improved from being fourth to run third.

Using the head-on film Mrs Thornton demonstrated that PRIMA DONNA was tiring and by changing her riding style she urged her mount to the post. Mr Coles was asked if he wished to comment on what Mrs Thornton had stated but he declined to.

Mrs T.Thornton called, as a witness Jan McGiven, the trainer, who said that this was PRIMA DONNA's first race after three trials over a shorter distance, and that in the run down the straight she ran greenly and away from the whip. Her instructions to T. Thornton were to try the whip and her observations were that PRIMA DONNA " hit the wall" 50 metres out and had come to the end of her run, and she was happy with the manner in which her horse was ridden to the post. It was the first time the mare had gone over 1400 metres.

Mr Coles in closing stated that Mrs Thornton in the last 20-30 metres had eased her mount and changed her riding tactics, in doing so had prevented PRIMA DONNA from having a reasonable chance of finishing in second place.

Mrs T Thornton in closing, stated she disagreed with Mr Coles that she had eased her mount and had ridden in the best interests of the horse to achieve the best result and that her whip action if continued would have resulted in a battling fourth.

DECISION

In Race 3 an information was filed by Mr A Coles Stipendiary Steward alleged a breach of rule 866(1)(c) by T Thornton in that being the rider of PRIMA DONNA she failed to ride her mount out to the end of the race when this horse had a reasonable chance of running second. Mrs.Thornton did not admit a breach of this rule. We have again viewed the video and heard the evidence and have to decide if the change of the riding pattern affected the chances of PRIMA DONNA finishing in a better position who was a nose away from the second horse PUFFDIDI ridden by Miss L Cropp. Evidence presented by Mr Oatham stated that by not continuing the use of the whip at the end of the race that Mrs Thornton's mount PRIMA DONNA lost the opportunity of finishing second.

Mrs T.Thornton stated that her mount had stopped responding to the whip so she used her hands to nurture the horse to the finish. She called trainer Mrs J McGiven as her witness, and Mrs McGiven supported the manner of Mrs Thornton's riding as she observed that her horse had "hit the wall" 50 metres out and that it was her first race and that PRIMA DONNA had never trailed up to 1400 metres.

We consider that the evidence presented by Mrs T Thorton gives rise to our doubts as to whether the charge is proven, so accordingly we dismiss the charge.

J Southworth                                         G Downey

Chairman                                                Panelist

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 866.1.c

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raceid: c3bc901cb1a317f0b6457bc034ac6a9e

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race_title: Race 3

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meetdate: 19/12/2007

meet_title: Racing Te Aroha - 19 December 2007

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