Archive Decision

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Nelson HRC 10 January 2016 – R10 – Chair, Mr T Utikere

ID: JCA13764

Applicant:
Mr N Ydgren - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr D Dunn - Licensed Open Horseman

Information Number:
A8057

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excessive use of the whip

Rules:
Rule 869(2)(a)

Plea:
admitted

Meet Title:
Nelson HRC - 10 January 2016

Meet Chair:
TUtikere

Meet Committee Member 1:
PWilliams

Race Date:
2016/01/10

Race Number:
R10

Decision:

As the charge was admitted, the committee found the charge proved.

Penalty:

Mr Dunn is fined $300.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 10 (NELSON PINE INDUSTRIES NELSON CUP (HANDICAP PACE) 3000m), Open Horseman, D Dunn was charged with a breach of Rule 869(2)(a). The Information stated: "You used your whip in a manner stewards deem to be excessive in the final straight."

Rule 869(2) reads: No horseman shall during any race:- (a) use his whip in an unnecessary, excessive or improper manner."

While the Information indicated that Mr Dunn had admitted the breach, he had also endorsed it with " Do not wish to be present."

Using the available side-on and head-on films, Mr Ydgren identified Mr Dunn (TATTINGER ROSE) positioned to the outside of Mr May (WESTERN ART) as the field turned for home. Mr Ydgren submitted that Mr Dunn had used his whip in excess of 20 times with rapid fire and little pause. He submitted that this was outside of the Whip Use Guidelines.  

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Ydgren submitted that Mr Dunn had a previous breach of this rule on 17 April 2015 for which he received a $325 fine. He believed Mr Dunn's record could be described as excellent as he had driven a lot of horses since then. Mr Ydgren identified that the JCA Penalty Guidelines noted a two day suspension or a $500 fine as the starting point for a breach of this rule. He submitted a fine in the vicinity $300 to $350 as appropriate. Although Mr Dunn elected not to be present at the hearing, Mr Ydgren informed the committee that Mr Dunn had intimated his preference for a fine rather than a period of suspension. 

Reasons for Penalty:

The committee considered all of the submissions placed before it. It is clear from the side-on and head-on films that Mr Dunn had used his whip in his right hand for approximately 23 strikes with limited respite in the final straight. This was in addition to some active use of the reins in his left hand. The JCA Penalty Guidelines identify a starting point of a two day suspension or a $500 for a first breach and a two to three days suspension for a second breach. The starting point for a second breach is relevant where the breach occurs within a six month period, so is not relevant to Mr Dunn's current breach. The committee determined that a fine was appropriate on this occasion and adopted the starting point of $500. In mitigation the committee considered Mr Dunn's admission of the breach and his excellent record for one of New Zealand's busiest drivers. The committee believed these aspects should afford Mr Dunn a discount in the quantum of $200. 

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: 617c222acf164c429449f03fc6ab67ab


informantnumber: A8057


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excessive use of the whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 11/01/2016


hearing_title: Nelson HRC 10 January 2016 - R10 - Chair, Mr T Utikere


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 10 (NELSON PINE INDUSTRIES NELSON CUP (HANDICAP PACE) 3000m), Open Horseman, D Dunn was charged with a breach of Rule 869(2)(a). The Information stated: "You used your whip in a manner stewards deem to be excessive in the final straight."

Rule 869(2) reads: No horseman shall during any race:- (a) use his whip in an unnecessary, excessive or improper manner."

While the Information indicated that Mr Dunn had admitted the breach, he had also endorsed it with " Do not wish to be present."

Using the available side-on and head-on films, Mr Ydgren identified Mr Dunn (TATTINGER ROSE) positioned to the outside of Mr May (WESTERN ART) as the field turned for home. Mr Ydgren submitted that Mr Dunn had used his whip in excess of 20 times with rapid fire and little pause. He submitted that this was outside of the Whip Use Guidelines.  


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As the charge was admitted, the committee found the charge proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Ydgren submitted that Mr Dunn had a previous breach of this rule on 17 April 2015 for which he received a $325 fine. He believed Mr Dunn's record could be described as excellent as he had driven a lot of horses since then. Mr Ydgren identified that the JCA Penalty Guidelines noted a two day suspension or a $500 fine as the starting point for a breach of this rule. He submitted a fine in the vicinity $300 to $350 as appropriate. Although Mr Dunn elected not to be present at the hearing, Mr Ydgren informed the committee that Mr Dunn had intimated his preference for a fine rather than a period of suspension. 


reasonsforpenalty:

The committee considered all of the submissions placed before it. It is clear from the side-on and head-on films that Mr Dunn had used his whip in his right hand for approximately 23 strikes with limited respite in the final straight. This was in addition to some active use of the reins in his left hand. The JCA Penalty Guidelines identify a starting point of a two day suspension or a $500 for a first breach and a two to three days suspension for a second breach. The starting point for a second breach is relevant where the breach occurs within a six month period, so is not relevant to Mr Dunn's current breach. The committee determined that a fine was appropriate on this occasion and adopted the starting point of $500. In mitigation the committee considered Mr Dunn's admission of the breach and his excellent record for one of New Zealand's busiest drivers. The committee believed these aspects should afford Mr Dunn a discount in the quantum of $200. 


penalty:

Mr Dunn is fined $300.


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: Rule 869(2)(a)


Informant: Mr N Ydgren - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr D Dunn - Licensed Open Horseman


Otherperson:


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: f469715012ea63d7044660fcada3a3ee


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R10


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 6755ec4e8619f97cfcad7d900f241e59


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 10/01/2016


meet_title: Nelson HRC - 10 January 2016


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: nelson-hrc


meet_racingtype: harness-racing


meet_chair: TUtikere


meet_pm1: PWilliams


meet_pm2: none


name: Nelson HRC