NZ Metro TC 14 February 2020 – R 10 – Chair, Mr R McKenzie
ID: JCA15960
Meet Title:
NZ Metro TC - 14 February 2020
Meet Chair:
RMcKenzie
Meet Committee Member 1:
SChing
Race Date:
2020/02/14
Race Number:
R10
Decision:
Mr Geddes having admitted the charge, the charge was found proved.
Penalty:
Mr Geddes’ Open Driver’s licence is suspended from after the close of racing today up to and including 25 February 2020 – 4 days. The meetings intended to be encompassed by the period of suspension are NZ Metropolitan TC on 20 February, Ashburton TC on 22 February and Waikouaiti TC on 23 February and 25 February 2020.
Facts:
Following the running of Race 10, HRS Construction Pace, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N M Ydgren, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr J B Geddes, alleging that Mr Geddes, as the driver of MISS DAYTONA in the race, “drove carelessly shortly after the start when allowing his horse to shift outwards checking CHUBBY CHECKER (B N Orange) which broke”.
Mr Geddes had signed the Statement by the Respondent on the information form indicating that the breach was admitted. Mr Geddes was present at the hearing of the information and he indicated that he understood the Rule and the charge, and confirmed that he admitted the charge.
Rule 869 provides as follows:
(3) No horseman in any race shall drive:-
(b) carelessly.
Mr Ydgren showed video replays of the start of the race, a 1980 metres mobile start event. He pointed out MISS DAYTONA, driven by Mr Geddes, drawn barrier position 4 and CHUBBY CHECKER (B N Orange) drawn immediately outside it, in barrier position 5.
Stewards were alleging that MISS DAYTONA had shifted out as the start was declared and Mr Geddes had taken his runner forward and had contacted the near hind leg of CHUBBY CHECKER, causing that horse to gallop, Mr Ydgren said. He highlighted, on the head-on video replay, the widening gap between the sulky wheels of MISS DAYTONA and MAJORCA, the horse drawn barrier position 3 inside MISS DAYTONA.
Mr Geddes did not wish to make any comment on the video replay or Mr Ydgren’s submissions.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Ydgren told the hearing that Mr Geddes has had 36 drives to date this season and, in the 2018/2019 season, had a total of 51 drives. He has a clear record under the rule and has admitted the breach, Mr Ydgren said.
Stewards were seeking a suspension of Mr Geddes’ licence, Mr Ydgren said. He estimated that Mr Geddes would drive approximately two horses per meeting, his own horses. He had advised the Stewards that he has a racing team of six horses currently, all of which will be racing in coming weeks.
Mr Ydgren referred to the Penalty Guide starting point of a 10-drives suspension which, for Mr Geddes, would be five meetings, he said. He submitted that a 4-5 days suspension would be appropriate. It was an aggravating factor that the 2nd favourite had been taken out of the race, but that factor was offset by Mr Geddes’ good record and admission of the breach, Mr Ydgren submitted. The breach was in the low-to-mid range, Mr Ydgren said, although the shift was not great. However, drivers needed to take more care, especially early in the race when drivers were looking to take up handy positions, he said.
Mr Geddes did not wish to make any penalty submissions, other than to say he wished any term of suspension to commence immediately. He did say that he had two drives tonight but, at most meetings, he would have three drives. There were no maiden races at tonight’s meeting, he said.
Reasons for Penalty:
In deciding penalty, the Committee has had regard to the Penalty Guide starting point of a 10-drives suspension. The relevant aggravating and mitigating factors were correctly highlighted by Mr Ydgren – the second favourite had suffered interference and its chances were extinguished but, against that, Mr Geddes had a good record and had admitted the breach.
The breach was low-range in that the shift up the track was minimal but the consequences we have already referred to. It was appropriate to stay at the starting point of a 10-drives suspension for a mid-range breach. The Committee has calculated that, in Mr Geddes’ case, that translates to four meetings, on the basis of 2-3 drives per meeting.
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: a623322b5322fb2a5980cacd126fa519
informantnumber: A12367
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Careless Driving
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 16/02/2020
hearing_title: NZ Metro TC 14 February 2020 - R 10 - Chair, Mr R McKenzie
charge:
facts:
Following the running of Race 10, HRS Construction Pace, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N M Ydgren, against Licensed Open Driver, Mr J B Geddes, alleging that Mr Geddes, as the driver of MISS DAYTONA in the race, “drove carelessly shortly after the start when allowing his horse to shift outwards checking CHUBBY CHECKER (B N Orange) which broke”.
Mr Geddes had signed the Statement by the Respondent on the information form indicating that the breach was admitted. Mr Geddes was present at the hearing of the information and he indicated that he understood the Rule and the charge, and confirmed that he admitted the charge.
Rule 869 provides as follows:
(3) No horseman in any race shall drive:-
(b) carelessly.
Mr Ydgren showed video replays of the start of the race, a 1980 metres mobile start event. He pointed out MISS DAYTONA, driven by Mr Geddes, drawn barrier position 4 and CHUBBY CHECKER (B N Orange) drawn immediately outside it, in barrier position 5.
Stewards were alleging that MISS DAYTONA had shifted out as the start was declared and Mr Geddes had taken his runner forward and had contacted the near hind leg of CHUBBY CHECKER, causing that horse to gallop, Mr Ydgren said. He highlighted, on the head-on video replay, the widening gap between the sulky wheels of MISS DAYTONA and MAJORCA, the horse drawn barrier position 3 inside MISS DAYTONA.
Mr Geddes did not wish to make any comment on the video replay or Mr Ydgren’s submissions.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
Mr Geddes having admitted the charge, the charge was found proved.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr Ydgren told the hearing that Mr Geddes has had 36 drives to date this season and, in the 2018/2019 season, had a total of 51 drives. He has a clear record under the rule and has admitted the breach, Mr Ydgren said.
Stewards were seeking a suspension of Mr Geddes’ licence, Mr Ydgren said. He estimated that Mr Geddes would drive approximately two horses per meeting, his own horses. He had advised the Stewards that he has a racing team of six horses currently, all of which will be racing in coming weeks.
Mr Ydgren referred to the Penalty Guide starting point of a 10-drives suspension which, for Mr Geddes, would be five meetings, he said. He submitted that a 4-5 days suspension would be appropriate. It was an aggravating factor that the 2nd favourite had been taken out of the race, but that factor was offset by Mr Geddes’ good record and admission of the breach, Mr Ydgren submitted. The breach was in the low-to-mid range, Mr Ydgren said, although the shift was not great. However, drivers needed to take more care, especially early in the race when drivers were looking to take up handy positions, he said.
Mr Geddes did not wish to make any penalty submissions, other than to say he wished any term of suspension to commence immediately. He did say that he had two drives tonight but, at most meetings, he would have three drives. There were no maiden races at tonight’s meeting, he said.
reasonsforpenalty:
In deciding penalty, the Committee has had regard to the Penalty Guide starting point of a 10-drives suspension. The relevant aggravating and mitigating factors were correctly highlighted by Mr Ydgren – the second favourite had suffered interference and its chances were extinguished but, against that, Mr Geddes had a good record and had admitted the breach.
The breach was low-range in that the shift up the track was minimal but the consequences we have already referred to. It was appropriate to stay at the starting point of a 10-drives suspension for a mid-range breach. The Committee has calculated that, in Mr Geddes’ case, that translates to four meetings, on the basis of 2-3 drives per meeting.
penalty:
Mr Geddes’ Open Driver’s licence is suspended from after the close of racing today up to and including 25 February 2020 – 4 days. The meetings intended to be encompassed by the period of suspension are NZ Metropolitan TC on 20 February, Ashburton TC on 22 February and Waikouaiti TC on 23 February and 25 February 2020.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: 869(3)(b)
Informant: N M Ydgren, Chief Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: J B Geddes, Licensed Open Driver
Otherperson:
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 6e294adf31927d26137cc9728f917a2c
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R10
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
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race_pm2:
meetid: b788875a67c657a413b7233631784290
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 0
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 14/02/2020
meet_title: NZ Metro TC - 14 February 2020
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: nz-metro-tc
meet_racingtype: harness-racing
meet_chair: RMcKenzie
meet_pm1: SChing
meet_pm2: none
name: NZ Metro TC