Canterbury JC 7 September 2019 – R 9 – Chair, Mr R McKenzie
ID: JCA13249
Code:
Thoroughbred
Meet Title:
Canterbury JC - 7 September 2019
Meet Chair:
RMcKenzie
Meet Committee Member 1:
DAnderson
Race Date:
2019/09/07
Race Number:
R9
Decision:
Ms Williams has admitted the breach and, accordingly, the charge is found proved.
Penalty:
Ms Williams is fined the sum of $150.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 9, US Navy Flag at Valachi Downs Rating 65, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr J M McLaughlin, against Licensed Jockey (Class A), Ms K Williams, alleging that Ms Williams “made a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post when riding QUEEN JETSUN.”
Ms Williams was present at the hearing of the information and she indicated that she understood the charge and that she admitted the breach.
Rule 638 provides as follows:
(2) A Rider shall not make a celebratory gesture prior to his horse passing the winning post.
Mr McLaughlin had Stipendiary Steward, Mr M R Davidson, show a video replay of the concluding stages of the race. He highlighted Ms Williams, riding QUEEN JETSUN, clearly in the lead, a stride and a half prior to the winning post stand up in the stirrups and raise her right arm high, whip in hand, in a celebratory gesture. The video replay speaks for itself, Mr McLaughlin acknowledged.
Ms Williams did not wish to comment on the incident.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr McLaughlin referred to the Penalty Guide starting point of a $300 fine and submitted that, in the circumstances, a fine in the range of $150-200 was an appropriate penalty. Mr McLaughlin said that he could understand Ms Williams’ excitement.
Ms Williams did not wish to say anything in relation to penalty.
Reasons for Penalty:
The Committee was aware that QUEEN JETSUN was a milestone 700th career winning ride for Ms Williams which, no doubt, was the reason for her excitement at the win. Nevertheless, it constituted a breach of a rule that exists for safety reasons and such celebratory gestures cannot be condoned.
The Committee took the Penalty Guide starting point of a $300 fine. Mitigating factors were that the gesture was made just prior to the winning post, Mrs Williams was well clear of other runners (her mount won by 3 lengths), she has a clear record and has made a frank admission of the breach. It is a low-end breach of the rule. A combination of those factors warrants, in the view of the Committee, a significant discount from the starting point, which discount we have fixed at $150. The Committee also looked at penalties for breaches of the rule imposed by other Judicial Committees and a fine of $150 is, we believe, consistent with those.
JCA Decision Fields (raw)
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Data from these fields should be mapped appropriately to display amongst the standard fields above; please make note of any values below that are missing in the above standard fields but should be there.
hearingid: 573ee58a604a4d6a00ee58410c44aed9
informantnumber: A11462
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Making Celebratory Gesture
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 11/09/2019
hearing_title: Canterbury JC 7 September 2019 - R 9 - Chair, Mr R McKenzie
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 9, US Navy Flag at Valachi Downs Rating 65, an information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr J M McLaughlin, against Licensed Jockey (Class A), Ms K Williams, alleging that Ms Williams “made a celebratory gesture prior to the winning post when riding QUEEN JETSUN.”
Ms Williams was present at the hearing of the information and she indicated that she understood the charge and that she admitted the breach.
Rule 638 provides as follows:
(2) A Rider shall not make a celebratory gesture prior to his horse passing the winning post.
Mr McLaughlin had Stipendiary Steward, Mr M R Davidson, show a video replay of the concluding stages of the race. He highlighted Ms Williams, riding QUEEN JETSUN, clearly in the lead, a stride and a half prior to the winning post stand up in the stirrups and raise her right arm high, whip in hand, in a celebratory gesture. The video replay speaks for itself, Mr McLaughlin acknowledged.
Ms Williams did not wish to comment on the incident.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
Ms Williams has admitted the breach and, accordingly, the charge is found proved.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr McLaughlin referred to the Penalty Guide starting point of a $300 fine and submitted that, in the circumstances, a fine in the range of $150-200 was an appropriate penalty. Mr McLaughlin said that he could understand Ms Williams’ excitement.
Ms Williams did not wish to say anything in relation to penalty.
reasonsforpenalty:
The Committee was aware that QUEEN JETSUN was a milestone 700th career winning ride for Ms Williams which, no doubt, was the reason for her excitement at the win. Nevertheless, it constituted a breach of a rule that exists for safety reasons and such celebratory gestures cannot be condoned.
The Committee took the Penalty Guide starting point of a $300 fine. Mitigating factors were that the gesture was made just prior to the winning post, Mrs Williams was well clear of other runners (her mount won by 3 lengths), she has a clear record and has made a frank admission of the breach. It is a low-end breach of the rule. A combination of those factors warrants, in the view of the Committee, a significant discount from the starting point, which discount we have fixed at $150. The Committee also looked at penalties for breaches of the rule imposed by other Judicial Committees and a fine of $150 is, we believe, consistent with those.
penalty:
Ms Williams is fined the sum of $150.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: 638(2)
Informant: J M McLaughlin, Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: K Williams, Licensed Jockey (Class A)
Otherperson: Mr M R Davidson - Stipendiary Steward
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 219d2b8430b99e2e133396221f430836
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R9
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: 42a80b583843e730abd8e6bf7ec5aa4d
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 0
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 07/09/2019
meet_title: Canterbury JC - 7 September 2019
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: canterbury-jc
meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing
meet_chair: RMcKenzie
meet_pm1: DAnderson
meet_pm2: none
name: Canterbury JC