Archive Decision

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Oamaru HRC 24 October 2019 – R 3 – Chair, Mr P Knowles

ID: JCA13491

Applicant:
Mr SP Renault - Stipendiay Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr R Close - Licensed Horseman

Information Number:
A11433

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Careless driving

Rules:
869 (3) (b)

Plea:
admitted

Meet Title:
Oamaru HRC - 24 October 2019

Meet Chair:
PKnowles

Meet Committee Member 1:
MConway

Race Date:
2019/10/24

Race Number:
R2

Decision:

Mr Close admitted the charge and it is found to be proved.

Penalty:

Taking all of the factors into account, we fine Mr Close the sum of $250.

Facts:

Mr Close was charged with a breach of r 869 (3) (b) in race 3, in which he drove PAY ME SMART. It was alleged that he “drove carelessly near the 600 metres when striking the wheel of PINK FLAMINGO RUN, which punctured.”

Mr Renault, with the aid of the videos, showed PAY ME SMART approaching the 600 metre mark in the one out-one back position, following PINK FLAMINGO RUN (B Orange). Improving 3-wide outside PAY ME SMART at this point of the race was FINE BY ME (R. May). Mr Close attempted to move out into the 3 wide line by pushing FINE BY ME wider on the track. Mr May resisted and after a short period of jostling, Mr Close struck Mr Orange’s outside wheel.

Mr Close did not have an advantage over Mr May when attempting the push-out, Mr Renault said. The incident left Mr Orange with a punctured tyre and adversely affected PINK FLAMINGO RUN, Mr Renault added.

Mr Close said he had an advantage over Mr May when he began his attempt to manoeuvre wider on the track but Mr May was progressing forward at a faster rate and ended up having the advantage.

While conceding his position and going back down to the one-one, Mr Close said he hit the wheel.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Renault produced Mr Close’s record which referenced 46 drives this season and 383 drives last season. His record under the rule was clear. The starting point in the JCA Penalty Guide for hitting a wheel is a 6 drive suspension or $300 fine. Mr Renault said an increase in penalty was warranted because the chances of Mr Orange were affected. However Mr Close could be given credit for his clear record and prompt admission. Stewards were therefore seeking a $300 fine.

Reasons for Penalty:

Any advantage Mr Close had at the time of the incident was nullified by Mr May progressing 3-wideat speed. In continuing to attempt to push-out, Mr Close made an error in judgment we consider to be low-end in seriousness. It was a rapidly-evolving situation and Mr May robustly defended his position. The punctured tyre that disadvantaged PINK FLAMINGO RUN is an aggravating factor.

Offsetting this in mitigation is Mr Close’s clear record under the rule and admission of the breach.

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: 3d75278eed28d5bfcfaa025f673cc355


informantnumber: A11433


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Careless driving


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 29/10/2019


hearing_title: Oamaru HRC 24 October 2019 - R 3 - Chair, Mr P Knowles


charge:


facts:

Mr Close was charged with a breach of r 869 (3) (b) in race 3, in which he drove PAY ME SMART. It was alleged that he “drove carelessly near the 600 metres when striking the wheel of PINK FLAMINGO RUN, which punctured.”

Mr Renault, with the aid of the videos, showed PAY ME SMART approaching the 600 metre mark in the one out-one back position, following PINK FLAMINGO RUN (B Orange). Improving 3-wide outside PAY ME SMART at this point of the race was FINE BY ME (R. May). Mr Close attempted to move out into the 3 wide line by pushing FINE BY ME wider on the track. Mr May resisted and after a short period of jostling, Mr Close struck Mr Orange’s outside wheel.

Mr Close did not have an advantage over Mr May when attempting the push-out, Mr Renault said. The incident left Mr Orange with a punctured tyre and adversely affected PINK FLAMINGO RUN, Mr Renault added.

Mr Close said he had an advantage over Mr May when he began his attempt to manoeuvre wider on the track but Mr May was progressing forward at a faster rate and ended up having the advantage.

While conceding his position and going back down to the one-one, Mr Close said he hit the wheel.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

Mr Close admitted the charge and it is found to be proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Renault produced Mr Close’s record which referenced 46 drives this season and 383 drives last season. His record under the rule was clear. The starting point in the JCA Penalty Guide for hitting a wheel is a 6 drive suspension or $300 fine. Mr Renault said an increase in penalty was warranted because the chances of Mr Orange were affected. However Mr Close could be given credit for his clear record and prompt admission. Stewards were therefore seeking a $300 fine.


reasonsforpenalty:

Any advantage Mr Close had at the time of the incident was nullified by Mr May progressing 3-wideat speed. In continuing to attempt to push-out, Mr Close made an error in judgment we consider to be low-end in seriousness. It was a rapidly-evolving situation and Mr May robustly defended his position. The punctured tyre that disadvantaged PINK FLAMINGO RUN is an aggravating factor.

Offsetting this in mitigation is Mr Close’s clear record under the rule and admission of the breach.


penalty:

Taking all of the factors into account, we fine Mr Close the sum of $250.


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 869 (3) (b)


Informant: Mr SP Renault - Stipendiay Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr R Close - Licensed Horseman


Otherperson:


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: 687a2a5c6e6f4dbeec5c397744b660e1


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R2


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 6203ed97814037890816c763c9fea8e4


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 24/10/2019


meet_title: Oamaru HRC - 24 October 2019


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: oamaru-hrc


meet_racingtype: harness-racing


meet_chair: PKnowles


meet_pm1: MConway


meet_pm2: none


name: Oamaru HRC