Archive Decision

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Otago RC 2 December 2018 – R 1 – Chair, Prof G Hall

ID: JCA13932

Applicant:
Mr M Davidson - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Ms B Grylls - Class A Jockey

Other Person:
Mr J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A8633

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excessive use of the whip

Rules:
638(3)(b)(ii)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Otago RC - 2 December 2018

Meet Chair:
GHall

Meet Committee Member 1:
MConway

Race Date:
2018/12/02

Race Number:
R 1

Decision:

As Ms Grylls has admitted the breach, we find the breach proved.

Penalty:

Ms Grylls is fined the sum of $300.

 

Facts:

Mr Davidson alleged that Ms Grylls (EL BEE JACK) in race 1, the OTAGO FARM MACHINERY MAIDEN 1400 used her whip excessively prior to the 100 metres.

Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) provides: “A Rider shall not strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent, which is excessive.”

The “Guidelines with Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide:

“Without affecting the generality of r 638(3)(b) a rider may be penalised if their whip use is outside of the following guidelines: Inside the final 600 metres of any Race, official trial or jump-out a horse may be struck with the drawn whip up to five times after which the rider must cease their use of the whip for a minimum of five strides before striking the horse again with the drawn whip, with this restriction to apply prior to the final 100 metres. The whip may then be used at the rider’s discretion until the winning post is reached. Prior to the final 600 metres of a race, official trial or jump-out the use of the drawn whip is acceptable if used in moderation and not continually.”

Mr Davidson demonstrated the breach using the videos. He pointed out there were nine or 10 strikes before the 100 metres. There was no clear break for five strides. He added there was no respite. While the strikes were not every stride, the last three were continuous.

Ms Grylls also emphasised that the strikes were not every stride. She said her horse had run on better than she had thought he was going to and she was trying to get the best out of him and had breached the rule in so doing.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Davidson produced the respondent’s record, which evidenced no previous breaches of this rule since Ms Grylls returned to New Zealand. It was established that she had come back from Queensland in July. Mr Davidson described this as an excellent record.

Ms Grylls accepted Mr Davidson’s submission.

Reasons for Penalty:

The starting point for a first breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) is a fine of $300.

The respondent has ridden here for 5 months and has not previously breached the rule. There are nine or 10 strikes with no clear break for five strides. The starting point in the Penalty Guide is a $300 fine. There are no aggravating factors. Admission of the breach does not merit a discount for Ms Grylls in this context.

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: 823469f5655179923c638e44a0ffcb83


informantnumber: A8633


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excessive use of the whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 04/12/2018


hearing_title: Otago RC 2 December 2018 - R 1 - Chair, Prof G Hall


charge:


facts:

Mr Davidson alleged that Ms Grylls (EL BEE JACK) in race 1, the OTAGO FARM MACHINERY MAIDEN 1400 used her whip excessively prior to the 100 metres.

Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) provides: “A Rider shall not strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent, which is excessive.”

The “Guidelines with Respect to Acceptable Use of the Whip” provide:

“Without affecting the generality of r 638(3)(b) a rider may be penalised if their whip use is outside of the following guidelines: Inside the final 600 metres of any Race, official trial or jump-out a horse may be struck with the drawn whip up to five times after which the rider must cease their use of the whip for a minimum of five strides before striking the horse again with the drawn whip, with this restriction to apply prior to the final 100 metres. The whip may then be used at the rider’s discretion until the winning post is reached. Prior to the final 600 metres of a race, official trial or jump-out the use of the drawn whip is acceptable if used in moderation and not continually.”

Mr Davidson demonstrated the breach using the videos. He pointed out there were nine or 10 strikes before the 100 metres. There was no clear break for five strides. He added there was no respite. While the strikes were not every stride, the last three were continuous.

Ms Grylls also emphasised that the strikes were not every stride. She said her horse had run on better than she had thought he was going to and she was trying to get the best out of him and had breached the rule in so doing.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Ms Grylls has admitted the breach, we find the breach proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Davidson produced the respondent’s record, which evidenced no previous breaches of this rule since Ms Grylls returned to New Zealand. It was established that she had come back from Queensland in July. Mr Davidson described this as an excellent record.

Ms Grylls accepted Mr Davidson’s submission.


reasonsforpenalty:

The starting point for a first breach of r 638(3)(b)(ii) is a fine of $300.

The respondent has ridden here for 5 months and has not previously breached the rule. There are nine or 10 strikes with no clear break for five strides. The starting point in the Penalty Guide is a $300 fine. There are no aggravating factors. Admission of the breach does not merit a discount for Ms Grylls in this context.


penalty:

Ms Grylls is fined the sum of $300.

 


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(3)(b)(ii)


Informant: Mr M Davidson - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Ms B Grylls - Class A Jockey


Otherperson: Mr J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: f1e9a8228d921983db805d868b946210


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R 1


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 986047b62b68b77be83e7cde01377c7a


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 02/12/2018


meet_title: Otago RC - 2 December 2018


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: otago-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: GHall


meet_pm1: MConway


meet_pm2: none


name: Otago RC