Auckland RC – 8 October 2005 – Race 7

Following the running of the Soliloquy Stakes (Race 7) at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting held on Saturday 8 October 2005, Information 5204 was laid by Stipendiary Steward AR Coles, alleging that jockey NG Harris had committed a breach of Rule 866(1)(c) of the rules of racing in that he had failed to ride his mount PULCINELLA out to the end of the race in which PULCINELLA finished in fourth placing.

Jockey NG Harris admitted the charge and evidence was then heard by the judicial committee solely on the issue of penalty. Stipendiary Steward JP Oatham, when giving evidence of his observation of the race, also demonstrated the incident on the film of the concluding stages of the race.

The judicial committee accepted that jockey NG Harris had relaxed his ride on PULCINELLA for three strides short of the finishing post, an action which allowed ECHO MAID finishing fast on the outside, to gain the lead despite jockey NG Harris pushing forward on his mount in its final stride immediately before the winning post.

The judicial committee accepted that jockey NG Harris had committed an error of judgement and although his actions were not deliberate or intentional he correctly acknowledged in admitting the charge that he had failed to ride his mount out to the end of the race and that his failure to do so caused his mount PULCINELLA to lose third placing by a nose.

The consequences of such an error were significant in that not only was there a loss of stake money amounting to $1800 to the connections of PULCINELLA but also the owners were denied the obtaining of a placing in a Listed Race and further that investments made by the public on PULCINELLA were lost.

Failures by jockeys to ride their mounts out to the end of the race which result in a loss of a dividend bearing placing have to be met by a period of suspension. It is accepted by the judicial committee that the breach by jockey NG Harris was unintentional but it was a breach, which had serious consequences. Notwithstanding jockey NG Harris's good records as an experienced rider, the judicial committee after taking into consideration the admission of the breach of rule 866(1)(c) suspended jockey NG Harris from riding from the conclusion of racing on Wednesday 12 October 2005 until the conclusion of racing on 5 November 2005. In assessing that penalty the judicial committee had regard, and took into account, the high volume of quality racing that would be held in New Zealand during that period of time, without which the period of suspension may have been longer.