Archive Decision

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Rangitikei RC 19 November 2016 – R2 Chair, Mr T Utikere

ID: JCA12944

Applicant:
Mr G Whiterod - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr R Hannam - Licensed Jockey

Other Person:
Mr D Balcombe - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A3375

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excessive Use of the Whip

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

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Rangitikei RC - 19 November 2016

Meet Chair:
TUtikere

Meet Committee Member 1:
NMoffatt

Race Date:
2016/11/19

Race Number:
R2

Decision:

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

Penalty:

 Mr Hannam is fined $300.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 2 (WENHAM GRAIN & SEED/BNZ PARTNERS HANDICAP 1200m), Information A3375 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) by Licensed Jockey Mr Robert Hannam. The Information stated: ”That Robert Hannam struck his horse approx (sic) 13 times prior to the 200m without the necessary respite.”

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

Mr Hannam confirmed to the committee that he understood Rule 638(3)(b)(ii), and that he admitted the breach.

Using the available head-on film, Mr Balcombe identified Mr Hannam (THAT’S FUNNY) as the field approached the final turn. Mr Whiterod pointed out that Mr Hannam had used his whip to strike his horse on three occasions, before putting the whip away for three strides, then continuously using his whip again for approximately 13 strikes in the run to the 200 metres.

When invited to comment on the incident, Mr Hannam stated that there was a somewhat limited understanding of the application of the six on and six off guidelines and thought that when he had paused for three strides the count relating to his whip use would start again. Upon reflection he accepted that his whip use in the context of this incident was considered excessive.

Submissions for Penalty:

In presenting Mr Hannam’s record, Mr Whiterod advised the committee that he had a clear record for the previous 12 month period under this rule. He also submitted that Mr Hannam had admitted the breach at the earliest opportunity and he submitted that a fine was appropriate.
Mr Hannam sought clarification from the committee regarding the JCA Penalty Guidelines Starting Point in relation to a breach of this rule. He noted that he had accepted responsibility for the breach and also submitted his desire for a fine rather than a period of suspension.

Reasons for Penalty:

The committee considered all of the evidence and submissions placed before it. The JCA Penalty Guidelines identify a starting point of a $500 fine or a two day period of suspension. The committee determined that a fine was appropriate on this occasion and adopted the starting point of a $500 fine. The head-on film clearly demonstrates that Mr Hannam struck his horse on three occasions, then took a pause for three strides before using his whip for a further 13 occasions without the required reprieve prior to the 200m. In that sense, the committee determines that Mr Hannam used his whip on at least 16 occasions without the necessary six stride respite in the lead up to the 200m. In mitigation we applied Mr Hannam’s admission of the breach and his excellent record under this rule for a very busy rider.

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: 6cf308a3f31da712b158fb79f3089e37


informantnumber: A3375


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excessive Use of the Whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 21/11/2016


hearing_title: Rangitikei RC 19 November 2016 - R2 Chair, Mr T Utikere


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 2 (WENHAM GRAIN & SEED/BNZ PARTNERS HANDICAP 1200m), Information A3375 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It alleged a breach of Rule 638(3)(b)(ii) by Licensed Jockey Mr Robert Hannam. The Information stated: ”That Robert Hannam struck his horse approx (sic) 13 times prior to the 200m without the necessary respite.”

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

Mr Hannam confirmed to the committee that he understood Rule 638(3)(b)(ii), and that he admitted the breach.

Using the available head-on film, Mr Balcombe identified Mr Hannam (THAT’S FUNNY) as the field approached the final turn. Mr Whiterod pointed out that Mr Hannam had used his whip to strike his horse on three occasions, before putting the whip away for three strides, then continuously using his whip again for approximately 13 strikes in the run to the 200 metres.

When invited to comment on the incident, Mr Hannam stated that there was a somewhat limited understanding of the application of the six on and six off guidelines and thought that when he had paused for three strides the count relating to his whip use would start again. Upon reflection he accepted that his whip use in the context of this incident was considered excessive.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

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


sumissionsforpenalty:

In presenting Mr Hannam’s record, Mr Whiterod advised the committee that he had a clear record for the previous 12 month period under this rule. He also submitted that Mr Hannam had admitted the breach at the earliest opportunity and he submitted that a fine was appropriate.
Mr Hannam sought clarification from the committee regarding the JCA Penalty Guidelines Starting Point in relation to a breach of this rule. He noted that he had accepted responsibility for the breach and also submitted his desire for a fine rather than a period of suspension.


reasonsforpenalty:

The committee considered all of the evidence and submissions placed before it. The JCA Penalty Guidelines identify a starting point of a $500 fine or a two day period of suspension. The committee determined that a fine was appropriate on this occasion and adopted the starting point of a $500 fine. The head-on film clearly demonstrates that Mr Hannam struck his horse on three occasions, then took a pause for three strides before using his whip for a further 13 occasions without the required reprieve prior to the 200m. In that sense, the committee determines that Mr Hannam used his whip on at least 16 occasions without the necessary six stride respite in the lead up to the 200m. In mitigation we applied Mr Hannam’s admission of the breach and his excellent record under this rule for a very busy rider.


penalty:

 Mr Hannam is fined $300.


hearing_type: Hearing


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


Informant: Mr G Whiterod - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr R Hannam - Licensed Jockey


Otherperson: Mr D Balcombe - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: bec9d21b21fcee11c1e307efccc12993


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: a517f0d0922b45c904730b343c7fcd87


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 19/11/2016


meet_title: Rangitikei RC - 19 November 2016


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: rangitikei-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: TUtikere


meet_pm1: NMoffatt


meet_pm2: none


name: Rangitikei RC