MZ Metropolitan TC 28 May 2021 – R 4 – Chair, Ms OK Jarvis
ID: JCA14913
Meet Title:
NZ Metro TC - 28 May 2021
Meet Chair:
OJarvis
Meet Committee Member 1:
SChing
Race Date:
2021/05/28
Race Number:
R 4
Decision:
As the breach was admitted the Committee found the charge proved.
Penalty:
Accordingly, Mr Butt is fined the sum of $500.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 4, the Dux Industries Trot, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault against Licensed Open Driver, Mr R Butt alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) in that he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion driving WITH ICE in the run home.
Rule 869(2) reads as follows:
869 (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.
Relevant Part of the Whip & Rein Regulations as follows:
WHIP AND REIN REGULATIONS
PART 3 USE OF THE WHIP
3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.
3.2 For the purposes of clause 3.1, “wrist only flicking motion” means:
3.2.1 Ensuring no force is generated by the use of the elbow or shoulder when applying the whip.
3.2.2 The forearm is not raised beyond forty-five degrees relative to the racing surface.
3.2.3 Not applying the whip with overt force.
3.3 A driver shall not use a whip in an unapproved manner.
3.4 For the purposes clause 3.3 a driver shall be deemed to have used the whip in an unapproved manner in the following circumstances which are not exclusive:
3.4.1 If the whip is applied other than as permitted in clause 3.1.
3.4.2 If the whip is applied excessively, continuously, or without allowing the horse time to respond.
3.4.3 If the whip is applied when the horse:
3.4.3.1 is not visibly responding.
3.4.3.2 is not in contention.
3.4.3.3 cannot maintain or improve its position.
3.4.3.4 is clearly winning.
3.4.3.5 has passed the winning post at the finish of a race.
3.4.4 If the whip is used when the reins are lengthened so as to result in loose reining.
3.4.5 If the whip is used in a prodding or jabbing fashion.
3.5 A driver must not use the whip in a manner which causes injury to a horse.
3.6 A whip shall not be used in a manner that may obstruct, strike or endanger another driver or horse.
3.7 A driver must ensure a whip does not project outside his or her sulky.
Mr Butt acknowledged that he understood the provisions of the charge and the Rule it was brought under. Mr Butt confirmed at the hearing that the breach was admitted.
Mr Renault showed the video replays of the run home. He pointed out Mr Butt, driving WITH ICE, positioned three wide on the track and coming into second place. Mr Renault demonstrated on the video replays; Mr Butt use his whip in more than a wrist flicking motion for some considerable distance and then inside the final 50 metres of the race returns to a more compliant style.
Mr Butt stated that he accepted that the video replays clearly showed that he had used more than a wrist flicking motion, however, Mr Butt felt that it was at the lower end rather than mid-range. Mr Butt felt that he had not continuously used more than a wrist flicking action but rather he had reverted to a compliant style before again using more than a wrist flicking action.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Renault stated that Mr Butt’s driving statistics showed 206 drives so far this season with 224 drives recorded for last season. Mr Renault outlined that due to the re-set period Mr Butt had a clear record in relation to this Rule. Mr Renault stated that this breach was mid-range with the JCA penalty Guide providing a $500 for a mid-level breach of this Rule. He submitted that a fine as per the Penalty Guide be considered as penalty in this case.
Mr Butt outlined that he felt that this breach was in the lower range as he had not continuously used more than a wrist flicking action but rather it was “broken up a lot”.
Reasons for Penalty:
The JCA Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a $500 fine, mitigation inclusive, on the Whip and Rein Regulations for a mid-range first offence of this Rule. The Committee deemed that this breach was mid-level and considered there were no aggravating factors to consider. It was therefore determined that a fine of $500, as per the Penalty Guide, was an appropriate penalty in this case.
JCA Decision Fields (raw)
Dmitry: This section contains all JCA fields migrated from the raw data.
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: 8b07659081be2c1a06704ab65c9ce1a6
informantnumber: A12672
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Contravention of the Use of Whip Regulations
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 01/06/2021
hearing_title: MZ Metropolitan TC 28 May 2021 - R 4 - Chair, Ms OK Jarvis
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 4, the Dux Industries Trot, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Renault against Licensed Open Driver, Mr R Butt alleging a breach of Rule 869(2) in that he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion driving WITH ICE in the run home.
Rule 869(2) reads as follows:
869 (2) No horseman shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.
Relevant Part of the Whip & Rein Regulations as follows:
WHIP AND REIN REGULATIONS
PART 3 USE OF THE WHIP
3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.
3.2 For the purposes of clause 3.1, “wrist only flicking motion” means:
3.2.1 Ensuring no force is generated by the use of the elbow or shoulder when applying the whip.
3.2.2 The forearm is not raised beyond forty-five degrees relative to the racing surface.
3.2.3 Not applying the whip with overt force.
3.3 A driver shall not use a whip in an unapproved manner.
3.4 For the purposes clause 3.3 a driver shall be deemed to have used the whip in an unapproved manner in the following circumstances which are not exclusive:
3.4.1 If the whip is applied other than as permitted in clause 3.1.
3.4.2 If the whip is applied excessively, continuously, or without allowing the horse time to respond.
3.4.3 If the whip is applied when the horse:
3.4.3.1 is not visibly responding.
3.4.3.2 is not in contention.
3.4.3.3 cannot maintain or improve its position.
3.4.3.4 is clearly winning.
3.4.3.5 has passed the winning post at the finish of a race.
3.4.4 If the whip is used when the reins are lengthened so as to result in loose reining.
3.4.5 If the whip is used in a prodding or jabbing fashion.
3.5 A driver must not use the whip in a manner which causes injury to a horse.
3.6 A whip shall not be used in a manner that may obstruct, strike or endanger another driver or horse.
3.7 A driver must ensure a whip does not project outside his or her sulky.
Mr Butt acknowledged that he understood the provisions of the charge and the Rule it was brought under. Mr Butt confirmed at the hearing that the breach was admitted.
Mr Renault showed the video replays of the run home. He pointed out Mr Butt, driving WITH ICE, positioned three wide on the track and coming into second place. Mr Renault demonstrated on the video replays; Mr Butt use his whip in more than a wrist flicking motion for some considerable distance and then inside the final 50 metres of the race returns to a more compliant style.
Mr Butt stated that he accepted that the video replays clearly showed that he had used more than a wrist flicking motion, however, Mr Butt felt that it was at the lower end rather than mid-range. Mr Butt felt that he had not continuously used more than a wrist flicking action but rather he had reverted to a compliant style before again using more than a wrist flicking action.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
As the breach was admitted the Committee found the charge proved.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr Renault stated that Mr Butt’s driving statistics showed 206 drives so far this season with 224 drives recorded for last season. Mr Renault outlined that due to the re-set period Mr Butt had a clear record in relation to this Rule. Mr Renault stated that this breach was mid-range with the JCA penalty Guide providing a $500 for a mid-level breach of this Rule. He submitted that a fine as per the Penalty Guide be considered as penalty in this case.
Mr Butt outlined that he felt that this breach was in the lower range as he had not continuously used more than a wrist flicking action but rather it was “broken up a lot”.
reasonsforpenalty:
The JCA Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a $500 fine, mitigation inclusive, on the Whip and Rein Regulations for a mid-range first offence of this Rule. The Committee deemed that this breach was mid-level and considered there were no aggravating factors to consider. It was therefore determined that a fine of $500, as per the Penalty Guide, was an appropriate penalty in this case.
penalty:
Accordingly, Mr Butt is fined the sum of $500.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: 869(2)
Informant: Mr S Renault - Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: Mr R Butt - Licensed Open Driver
Otherperson:
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 03841ddd0f929e0113cfbbf8dbdb81e0
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R 4
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: f2529d5c6f43599cc733fa70db68abb2
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 1
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 28/05/2021
meet_title: NZ Metro TC - 28 May 2021
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: nz-metro-tc
meet_racingtype: harness-racing
meet_chair: OJarvis
meet_pm1: SChing
meet_pm2: none
name: NZ Metro TC