Archive Decision

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Waikato RC 8 August 2020 – R 6 – Chair, Mr N McCutcheon

ID: JCA14057

Applicant:
Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr Montes de Oca - Rider of RICHARD YORKE

Other Person:
Mr P Richards - Assisting Mr Montes de Oca, Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A13379

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excessive Use of the Whip

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

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Waikato RC - 8 August 2020

Meet Chair:
NMcCutcheon

Meet Committee Member 1:
ASmith

Race Date:
2020/08/08

Race Number:
R 6

Decision:

As the breach was admitted it was deemed proved by the Committee.

Penalty:

Mr Montes de Oca’s Apprentice Jockey’s License was suspended from the end of racing on 8 August up to the cessation of racing on 23 August 2020 (6 Riding Days).

All riders need to be mindful that excessive use of the whip is a serious animal welfare issue and will not be condoned.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 6 (Foster 2100) Information No. A13379 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It was alleged that Mr Montes de Oca used his whip excessively prior to the 100m.

Mr Richards on behalf of the Respondent said that the Rule was understood and confirmed that the breach was admitted.

Mr Coles showed the film replays and said that Mr Montes de Oca used the whip in both hands alternatively and had struck his mount a total of 13 times prior to the 100m. He said that he also struck his mount consecutively on two occasions; firstly 3 times in a row and then 7 times in a row.

Mr Richards said that he had nothing to add as it was a clear breach of the Rule.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Williamson said that Mr Montes de Oca had had only a few rides in New Zealand and had a clear record. He submitted that due to the higher number of strikes and the consecutive use of the whip, that a term of suspension would be an appropriate penalty.

Mr Richards in response said that it was Mr Montes de Oca’s first breach; he was riding in a different country and asked the Committee to show some leniency.

Mr Richards confirmed that the Respondent had had less than 12 rides (in New Zealand) and 35 trial rides.

Reasons for Penalty:

The film evidence was very clear that the Respondent had used the whip 13 times prior to the 100m and had struck his mount on consecutive times. The limit prior to the 100m is 5 strikes with the whip. 13 times is well in excess and would be placed in the higher category. The JCA Penalty Guideline for such use is a 6-Riding Day suspension.

Taking into account the number of strikes and the consecutive use of the whip, it was considered that an increase could be applied due to these aggravating features.

Balanced against that was that it was a first breach of the Rule and that the Respondent had had a limited number of raceday rides in New Zealand. The JCA starting point was considered to be a condign penalty.

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: 923fcc210d9172efb557b3f5c8f4f100


informantnumber: A13379


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excessive Use of the Whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 10/08/2020


hearing_title: Waikato RC 8 August 2020 - R 6 - Chair, Mr N McCutcheon


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 6 (Foster 2100) Information No. A13379 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It was alleged that Mr Montes de Oca used his whip excessively prior to the 100m.

Mr Richards on behalf of the Respondent said that the Rule was understood and confirmed that the breach was admitted.

Mr Coles showed the film replays and said that Mr Montes de Oca used the whip in both hands alternatively and had struck his mount a total of 13 times prior to the 100m. He said that he also struck his mount consecutively on two occasions; firstly 3 times in a row and then 7 times in a row.

Mr Richards said that he had nothing to add as it was a clear breach of the Rule.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As the breach was admitted it was deemed proved by the Committee.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Williamson said that Mr Montes de Oca had had only a few rides in New Zealand and had a clear record. He submitted that due to the higher number of strikes and the consecutive use of the whip, that a term of suspension would be an appropriate penalty.

Mr Richards in response said that it was Mr Montes de Oca’s first breach; he was riding in a different country and asked the Committee to show some leniency.

Mr Richards confirmed that the Respondent had had less than 12 rides (in New Zealand) and 35 trial rides.


reasonsforpenalty:

The film evidence was very clear that the Respondent had used the whip 13 times prior to the 100m and had struck his mount on consecutive times. The limit prior to the 100m is 5 strikes with the whip. 13 times is well in excess and would be placed in the higher category. The JCA Penalty Guideline for such use is a 6-Riding Day suspension.

Taking into account the number of strikes and the consecutive use of the whip, it was considered that an increase could be applied due to these aggravating features.

Balanced against that was that it was a first breach of the Rule and that the Respondent had had a limited number of raceday rides in New Zealand. The JCA starting point was considered to be a condign penalty.


penalty:

Mr Montes de Oca’s Apprentice Jockey’s License was suspended from the end of racing on 8 August up to the cessation of racing on 23 August 2020 (6 Riding Days).

All riders need to be mindful that excessive use of the whip is a serious animal welfare issue and will not be condoned.


hearing_type: Hearing


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


Informant: Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr Montes de Oca - Rider of RICHARD YORKE


Otherperson: Mr P Richards - Assisting Mr Montes de Oca, Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: d74fe5c4dd9a7e9c13a790ba156657d6


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: da6066784aba10d300835dccf9340200


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 08/08/2020


meet_title: Waikato RC - 8 August 2020


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: waikato-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: NMcCutcheon


meet_pm1: ASmith


meet_pm2: none


name: Waikato RC