Ashburton RC – 17 March 2006 – Race 4

hearingid: 73f63140b5e0defdddd47fe557c46a8e

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 17/03/2006

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penaltyrequired:

decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Ashburton RC - 17 March 2006 - Race 4

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Decision:

Hearing of information number 5080 filed under Rule 871(1)(e) by Mr N Goodwin, Stipendiary Steward, (Informant) alleging that the rider of "Just a Dream", Ms J Lawson, (Licensed Jockey), allowed her mount to drop out losing contact with the field after the start and failing to attempt to improve her position when she was able to do so

Ms JS Lawson has been charged with incompetent riding pursuant to Rule 871(1)(e) of the Rules of Racing.

The information alleges that Ms Lawson, the rider of "Just A Dream", allowed her mount to drop out losing contact with the field after the start and failed to attempt to improve her position when she was able to do so. Evidence presented by Mr Goodwin was quite straightforward. At the start, when the field was released, Ms Lawson's mount received interference by being crowded by the horses on either side of her and in the process, Ms Lawson's mount did move sideways.

There is no evidence of "Just A Dream" being unbalanced, but from that point on "Just A Dream" lost contact with the field. The horse lost three to five lengths in the first instance and then proceeded to fade, going back to fifteen lengths plus behind the field. There it stayed until the home turn when, with approximately 250 metres to run, under a vigorous hands and heels ride, it finished on in fifth place.

Mr Goodwin called Mr Neil Ridley, the trainer of "Just A Dream" who told the hearing that he had not given Ms Lawson any specific riding instructions. He said that she had ridden the horse on a number of occasions and knew how to handle the ride. He told the hearing that the horse had been working well, and when it lost contact with the field he thought something was wrong. He thought that Ms Lawson was further back than normal and that he was concerned. Mr M Humphries, Assistant Stipendiary Steward, told the hearing that "Just A Dream" did not get a fair start but that was due to the actions of the horses either side of Ms Lawson's mount. However, what was of concern to him was that Ms Lawson, from that point on, showed no vigour and allowed the horse to drift. He was of the view that she should have been a lot closer to the field, it being a 1200 metre race.

The hearing was shown several video camera views of the ride which confirmed the oral evidence given about the incident at the start and the run of the horse for the race.

Ms Lawson did not call evidence but instead gave her explanation of what happened. She told the hearing that after the interference that she received at the start, that the horse went flat and did not appear to be interested in staying in contact. She was concerned about "hunting the horse up" because it has a short sprint capability and she felt that had she showed any vigour earlier on, then there would have been "nothing left" when the finish came. She said that once she began to ride with vigour, that the horse found the line well.

We have to determine if Ms Lawson's riding was incompetent. For the purposes of this charge we must be satisfied that Ms Lawson did not use or demonstrate the skills that would be expected of a senior rider having regard to the experience that she has. Several factors must be looked at.

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• Was the horse a favoured runner?
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• Could the incident at the start have affected it to the extent that Ms Lawson would have us believe?
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• Was this a misjudgement on Ms Lawson's part or was it an incompetent ride on her part?
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• Was Ms Lawson entitled to make a subjective assessment of the horse's strengths and abilities in terms of its strong sprinting finish and to stay so far back in the process'
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• Was this ride in the best interests of the connections and the betting public?

They are just some of the factors that must be considered and it is not intended for those factors to be an exhaustive list.

We have reached the firm conclusion that the charge has been proved. Our reasons for reaching this conclusions are:

It is not uncommon for horses to receive checks at the start in the manner that "Just A Dream" was checked. However, after that initial loss of ground, Ms Lawson made no effort to put her mount in contact with the field. The video coverage of Ms Lawson's riding style, after losing three to five lengths, clearly shows that no vigour was applied. Vigour was not shown until at least 250 metres from the finish. The horse ran on in quite a spectacular fashion to finish fifth within four lengths of the winner. The way in which Ms Lawson rode, in our opinion, went beyond that of a misjudgement. The ride gave all appearances of Ms Lawson allowing the horse to drift back. We are aware that Ms Lawson contests that point, but that is our finding. This horse went to the track in good racing condition and the trainer expected a lot more of it. It was the second favourite. Whilst a jockey must make some subjective assessment about a horse's strengths and abilities, at the same time the jockey also has a duty to do his or her very best for the connections and the betting public. Ms Lawson did not discharge that duty.

Having found the charge proved, we will now hear from both parties on the question of penalty.

Mr Goodwin submitted that the charge was serious and that a lengthy suspension was called for. It is disappointing that Ms Lawson has not seen fit to make a submission on the question of penalty. Be that as it may, we have given careful consideration to the penalty that we consider ought to be imposed. We have had particular regard to the impact that this ride had on the connections of this horse and the betting public and a suspension is the only penalty that can be considered. What we have here is a serious error of judgment amounting to incompetence on the part of a senior jockey. It does call for lengthy suspension which we set at a period of approximately six weeks. The suspension will start following the conclusion of racing at Invercargill this Sunday 19^th March until the conclusion of racing at Riccarton on 22^nd April. That is the equivalent of seven South Island racing days.

Thank you.

KG Hales

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 871.1.e

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race_title: Race 4

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meetdate: 17/03/2006

meet_title: Ashburton RC - 17 March 2006

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