Archive Decision

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South Canterbury RC 13 October 2017 – R 6 – Chair, Mr D Anderson

ID: JCA12932

Applicant:
J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
C Johnson-Class A Rider

Other Person:
J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A09526

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Careless Riding

Rules:
638(1)(d)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
South Canterbury RC - 13 October 2017

Meet Chair:
DAnderson

Meet Committee Member 1:
SChing

Race Date:
2017/10/13

Race Number:
R 6

Decision:

As Mr Johnson had admitted the breach, the charge was found proved.

Penalty:

Accordingly, we suspend Mr Johnson’s licence from the conclusion of racing on the 15th October 2017 up to and including racing on the 21st November 2017.

The four meetings encompassed in this suspension are:

Te Aroha 18th October 2017

Woodville 19th October 2017

Tauranga 20th October 2017

Arawa Park or Ashburton 21st October 2017

Facts:

Following the running of Race 6 the Onceuponatime Handicap, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr J McLaughlin, against Mr C Johnson the rider of DIRECTOR, alleging careless riding in that he “permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of BLUE PRINT (L Hemi) which was checked near the 1400 metres.”

Rule 638(1)(d) reads as follows:

“(1) A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be:

(d) careless”

Mr Johnson had indicated on the Information that this breach of the Rules was admitted and he confirmed this at the hearing. Mr Johnson also agreed that he understood the charge and the Rule it was brought under.

Mr Oatham, gave evidence and used video coverage to show DIRECTOR (Mr Johnson) racing approximately 5 wide approaching the 1400 metres. He pointed to Mr Johnson looking to his inside on several occasions and then on the point of the turn coming across BLUE PRINT (L Hemi) who was checked. Both Mr Oatham and Mr McLaughlin estimated that Mr Johnson was only 3/4 of a length clear. Mr McLaughlin said that Ms Hemi had two horses to her inside and was not able to relieve any pressure. Mr McLaughlin added this was what could best be described as a lazy manoeuvre from Mr Johnson.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr McLaughlin stated Mr Johnson has had three breaches of this rule in the last 12 months.

He said Mr Johnson is the country’s leading rider and considering the number of rides he has had this is a good record. He said the Stewards would be asking for a suspension of four days.

Mr Johnson submitted that the Committee consider his admission of the breach.

Reasons for Penalty:

In determining penalty, we have taken the JCA Penalty Guide starting point for a national rider, which is a five-day suspension.

Although Mr Johnson has had three previous suspensions in the last 12 months, the last one being nearly four months ago, this Committee agrees that, given the number of races he has competed in, this is a good record.

There are no aggravating factors to consider.

In mitigation we can afford a discount of one day for Mr Johnson’s ready admission of the breach. We consider a 4-day suspension is an appropriate penalty in this case.

Deferment was discussed and as riders were declared for Winton, Mr Johnson asked to start his suspension after that days racing.

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: 6b13c0b493cd3cae9de58148b3daa2ab


informantnumber: A09526


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Careless Riding


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 17/10/2017


hearing_title: South Canterbury RC 13 October 2017 - R 6 - Chair, Mr D Anderson


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 6 the Onceuponatime Handicap, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr J McLaughlin, against Mr C Johnson the rider of DIRECTOR, alleging careless riding in that he “permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of BLUE PRINT (L Hemi) which was checked near the 1400 metres.”

Rule 638(1)(d) reads as follows:

“(1) A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be:

(d) careless”

Mr Johnson had indicated on the Information that this breach of the Rules was admitted and he confirmed this at the hearing. Mr Johnson also agreed that he understood the charge and the Rule it was brought under.

Mr Oatham, gave evidence and used video coverage to show DIRECTOR (Mr Johnson) racing approximately 5 wide approaching the 1400 metres. He pointed to Mr Johnson looking to his inside on several occasions and then on the point of the turn coming across BLUE PRINT (L Hemi) who was checked. Both Mr Oatham and Mr McLaughlin estimated that Mr Johnson was only 3/4 of a length clear. Mr McLaughlin said that Ms Hemi had two horses to her inside and was not able to relieve any pressure. Mr McLaughlin added this was what could best be described as a lazy manoeuvre from Mr Johnson.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Mr Johnson had admitted the breach, the charge was found proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr McLaughlin stated Mr Johnson has had three breaches of this rule in the last 12 months.

He said Mr Johnson is the country’s leading rider and considering the number of rides he has had this is a good record. He said the Stewards would be asking for a suspension of four days.

Mr Johnson submitted that the Committee consider his admission of the breach.


reasonsforpenalty:

In determining penalty, we have taken the JCA Penalty Guide starting point for a national rider, which is a five-day suspension.

Although Mr Johnson has had three previous suspensions in the last 12 months, the last one being nearly four months ago, this Committee agrees that, given the number of races he has competed in, this is a good record.

There are no aggravating factors to consider.

In mitigation we can afford a discount of one day for Mr Johnson’s ready admission of the breach. We consider a 4-day suspension is an appropriate penalty in this case.

Deferment was discussed and as riders were declared for Winton, Mr Johnson asked to start his suspension after that days racing.


penalty:

Accordingly, we suspend Mr Johnson’s licence from the conclusion of racing on the 15th October 2017 up to and including racing on the 21st November 2017.

The four meetings encompassed in this suspension are:

Te Aroha 18th October 2017

Woodville 19th October 2017

Tauranga 20th October 2017

Arawa Park or Ashburton 21st October 2017


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(1)(d)


Informant: J McLaughlin - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: C Johnson-Class A Rider


Otherperson: J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: af977bf66442ebc03934ac32f65c11a8


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R 6


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: eda40bbd194c39bce186a3b6594689e6


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 13/10/2017


meet_title: South Canterbury RC - 13 October 2017


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: south-canterbury-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: DAnderson


meet_pm1: SChing


meet_pm2: none


name: South Canterbury RC