Rangiora HRC – 7 December 2006 –

hearingid: 432ba7456ce6e7555422adc6944071eb

informantnumber:

horsename:

hearing_racingtype: harness-racing

startdate: 07/12/2006

newcharge:

plea:

penaltyrequired:

decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Rangiora HRC - 7 December 2006 -

charge:

facts:

appealdecision:

isappeal:

submissionsfordecision:

reasonsfordecision:

Decision:

Following the running of Race 4, PlaceMakers Cranford Street Pace, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N R Escott, against Licensed Graduation Driver, Mr G J Manson, alleging that Mr Manson, as the driver of HANOVER VIC in the Race, "diminished his horse's chances and/or drove incompetently

Following the running of Race 4, PlaceMakers Cranford Street Pace, an information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N R Escott, against Licensed Graduation Driver, Mr G J Manson, alleging that Mr Manson, as the driver of HANOVER VIC in the Race, "diminished his horse's chances and/or drove incompetently when attacking for the lead from the 1800 metre mark to the 400 metre mark after which HANOVER VIC commenced to give ground".

Mr Manson attended the hearing of the information and indicated that he did not admit the breach of either Rule. The Committee explained to Mr Manson the serious nature of the charges and gave him the opportunity to have the hearing adjourned to a future date to enable him to seek advice and prepare a proper defence to the charges. After a discussion involving the Chairman, Mr Manson and Mr Escott, the hearing was adjourned until after Race 8 to enable Mr Manson to seek advice from Mr R D Holmes, a senior horseman, as to what course of action he should take.

At the resumption of the hearing, Mr Manson stated that he had conferred with Mr Holmes and now wished to admit the charge under Rule 869 (3) (g). On that basis, Mr Escott sought leave of the Committee to withdraw the charge under Rule 869 (3) (a). Leave was granted. The charge under Rule 869 (3) (g) was found to be proved.

Rule 869 (3) (g) provides as follows:

Mrs K R Williams, Stipendiary Steward, showed a video replay of the Race, a 2600 metre standing start event. She pointed out Mr Manson move up to sit outside the leader, MELISSA ROSE (D J Butt), after about 600 metres. Thereafter, HANOVER VIC raced outside the leader for at least the next 1400 metres, with his nose in front on a number of occasions. She said that it was alleged by the Stipendiary Stewards that the drive was not a "prudent drive" or a "reasonable drive" by Mr Manson. She said that in the vast majority of races, the parked horse would sit outside the leader's wheel. Mr Butt, as driver of the lead horse, was entitled to hold his position. Mrs Williams, who had observed the race from the patrol box at the top of the home straight, said that she had heard Mr Butt talking to Mr Manson and had heard him say that he intended to hold the lead. Most drivers would heed that and restrain back. Mr Butt's horse, MELISSA ROSE, had finished 2^nd in the Race (beaten by a nose). Mr Butt had been able to rate his horse but HANOVER VIC had finished 14^th in the 15 horse field. It had begun to tire from the 600 metre mark.

Mr Escott stated that it was a "poor spectacle" as far as the Stipendiary Stewards were concerned.

Mr Manson told the Committee that it was his 7^th raceday drive. He said that he had made a mistake driving HANOVER VIC in its last start by getting in the one out one back and then being forced back to last at the home turn with his horse full of running and having nowhere to go. He said that he could "rate a horse reasonably well to the clock" and felt he would be running around 3:20. It was not until the end of the back straight that he "pushed the horse up "with a little bit of speed to take on the leader. He acknowledged that Mr Butt had told him that he could not have the lead. He stated that he had a hold of his horse the whole way and she travelled nicely the whole way and did not pull. He further stated that, on leaving the straight (with 1400 metres to run) Mr Butt had "pulled his horse right up" and he, Mr Manson did not want to "walk" and then sprint the last quarter which would have given his horse no chance. He felt that his horse would have been "right in it" if the last two quarters could have been run in 30 seconds each.

In relation to penalty, Mr Escott confirmed that the drive was Mr Manson's seventh raceday drive. He conceded that Mr Manson should be given credit for his guilty plea. However, the charge was "of a serious nature", he submitted. Having regard to the number of drives that Mr Manson would be having, Mr Escott recommended a two months' suspension.

Mr Manson stated that that he believed that he had "rated" his horse but acknowledged that it "did not look pretty". He said that, with experience, he would have dropped in to a position 3-back on the markers which was his initial thought. He was not going to get experience if he was given a suspension of the length recommended by Mr Escott, which he felt would be harsh.

Following a deliberation, the Committee delivered the following oral decision:

"In considering penalty in this case, I have taken into account the following matters. Firstly, Mr Manson's frank admission of the breach after he had received advice from Mr Holmes, a senior horseman. Secondly, I have taken into account, and I think it is quite a telling factor, Mr Manson's obvious inexperience at raceday driving which, I feel sure, has had a lot to do with the way he drove the horse. He showed a lack of good judgement in electing to dispute the lead outside the leader for over 1400 metres in the race and that lack of good judgement could reasonably be put down, I believe, to Mr Manson's inexperience. Thirdly, I have taken into account, as far as I am able to, Mr Manson's explanation of why he drove the horse the way he did which, again, I feel could be put down to his lack of experience.

On the other hand, I have had to safeguard the integrity of racing and the interests of the betting public who are entitled, I feel, to something better for their money than they received tonight.

So, taking all of those matters into account, I have decided that Mr Manson's horseman's licence will be suspended up to and including 31 January 2007".

R G McKenzie

sumissionsforpenalty:

reasonsforpenalty:

penalty:

hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 869.3.g, 869.3.a

Informant:

JockeysandTrainer:

Otherperson:

PersonPresent:

Respondent:

StipendSteward:

raceid:

race_expapproval:

racecancelled:

race_noreport:

race_emailed1:

race_emailed2:

race_title:

submittochair:

race_expappcomment:

race_km:

race_otherexp:

race_chair:

race_pm1:

race_pm2:

meetid:

meet_expapproval:

meet_noreport:

waitingforpublication:

meet_emailed1:

meet_emailed2:

meetdate: no date provided

meet_title:

meet_expappcomment:

meet_km:

meet_otherexp:

tracklocation:

meet_racingtype:

meet_chair:

meet_pm1:

meet_pm2:

name: