Waikato RC 8 May 2021 – R 1 – Chair, Mr G Jones
ID: JCA14077
Code:
Thoroughbred
Meet Title:
Waikato RC - 8 May 2021
Meet Chair:
GJones
Meet Committee Member 1:
BScott
Race Date:
2021/05/08
Race Number:
R1
Decision:
As Mr Douglas admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.
Penalty:
Accordingly, Mr Douglas’ Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 2 days commencing after racing on 8 May 2021 and concluding after racing on 14 May 2021.
Facts:
This charge arises from the running of Race 1, the Pike Racing Punters Challenge Opener (2800 m maiden hurdle). Stipendiary Steward, Mr Jones filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(4) alleging the rider of THE FOT (L Douglas) “unreasonably slowed the pace in the early stages with PRIZED PINS (H McNeill) which was following clipping a heel and blundering.”
Mr Douglas fell from his mount during the running of the race and was treated by the Course Doctor for a suspected broken collar bone. Despite this he was able to attend the hearing. He acknowledged that he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.
Rule 638(4) provides:
A Rider shall not unreasonably slow, reduce or check the speed of his or her horse to a degree that interferes, either directly or indirectly, with any other horse in the race. [Amended 1 August 2017)
Using the available race films Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williamson demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and riders concerned; namely THE FOT (L Douglas), PRIZED PINS (H McNeill), and SOUTHERN COOL (M Cropp).
Mr Williamson told the Committee that after jumping the first fence down the back straight THE FOT was racing 3-wide near the lead. After a further 150 to 200 metres (near the 2400 metres) Mr Douglas took a strong hold of his mount and slowed the pace. As a result, PRIZED PINS who was following behind THE FOT had to be checked and blundered after clipping that runner’s heel.
By way of explanation, Mr Douglas accepted that he slowed the pace but attributed some of the blame to the horse on his inside OLLIE (E Farr) who he claimed interfered with his progress.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Jones produced Mr Douglas’ riding record which indicated no previous breaches under the Rule in the last 12 months. He said that the Rule came into force 3 or 4 years ago and there have since been a limited number of charges. He advised that Class A Rider, L Hemi was charged with a breach of the Rule on 1 May 2021 and received a 3-day suspension. He said that the only aggravating factor is that as a result of the incident PRIZED PINS clipped heels and blundered. He added that due to the fact the ‘jumps’ Riders have limited riding opportunities a suspension in the vicinity of 1 to 2 days would be appropriate on this occasion.
Mr Douglas did not seek a deferment to any proposed suspension. He asked the Committee to take into account his clear record.
Reasons for Penalty:
After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Committee determined Mr Douglas’ culpability to be in the mid-range.
The JCA Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of this Rule is 6 to 8 days.
In consideration of penalty, we have taken into account the following factors:
1.-This Rule is part of the Careless Riding ‘family of offences’, and we are mindful that since this Rule came into force in 2017 there has been a reduction in penalties for careless riding.
2.-We are mindful that jumps riders have limited riding opportunities compare to flat riders; and
3.-For consistency we have noted the 3-day suspension imposed on rider L Hemi for a similar breach on 1 May 2021, albeit differing circumstances.
The race films clearly show that four horses jumped the first fence in unison and three including THE FOT who was 3-wide landed awkwardly. All three horses were squeezed and put off balance. THE FOT continued to race 3-wide for some distance before Mr Douglas took a strong hold and slowed the pace. As a result, PRIZED PINS who was directly behind clipped a heel and blundered.
After considering Mr Douglas’ admission of breach, his good record and the above factors the Committee deemed that an appropriate suspension was 2 (national jumps) days.
It is also of note that coincidental with this breach another rider in the race was also charged under the same rule (refer Information number 14034). Whilst the incidents were separate there was a lot going on after the leading horses jumped the first fence awkwardly.
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: 95b8d5f2254c4505fa25c2906c0bdddc
informantnumber: A14035
horsename:
hearing_racingtype:
startdate: no date provided
newcharge: Unreasonably slowed the pace
plea: admitted
penaltyrequired: 1
decisiondate: 09/05/2021
hearing_title: Waikato RC 8 May 2021 – R 1 – Chair, Mr G Jones
charge:
facts:
This charge arises from the running of Race 1, the Pike Racing Punters Challenge Opener (2800 m maiden hurdle). Stipendiary Steward, Mr Jones filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(4) alleging the rider of THE FOT (L Douglas) “unreasonably slowed the pace in the early stages with PRIZED PINS (H McNeill) which was following clipping a heel and blundering.”
Mr Douglas fell from his mount during the running of the race and was treated by the Course Doctor for a suspected broken collar bone. Despite this he was able to attend the hearing. He acknowledged that he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.
Rule 638(4) provides:
A Rider shall not unreasonably slow, reduce or check the speed of his or her horse to a degree that interferes, either directly or indirectly, with any other horse in the race. [Amended 1 August 2017)
Using the available race films Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williamson demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and riders concerned; namely THE FOT (L Douglas), PRIZED PINS (H McNeill), and SOUTHERN COOL (M Cropp).
Mr Williamson told the Committee that after jumping the first fence down the back straight THE FOT was racing 3-wide near the lead. After a further 150 to 200 metres (near the 2400 metres) Mr Douglas took a strong hold of his mount and slowed the pace. As a result, PRIZED PINS who was following behind THE FOT had to be checked and blundered after clipping that runner’s heel.
By way of explanation, Mr Douglas accepted that he slowed the pace but attributed some of the blame to the horse on his inside OLLIE (E Farr) who he claimed interfered with his progress.
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
As Mr Douglas admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.
sumissionsforpenalty:
Mr Jones produced Mr Douglas’ riding record which indicated no previous breaches under the Rule in the last 12 months. He said that the Rule came into force 3 or 4 years ago and there have since been a limited number of charges. He advised that Class A Rider, L Hemi was charged with a breach of the Rule on 1 May 2021 and received a 3-day suspension. He said that the only aggravating factor is that as a result of the incident PRIZED PINS clipped heels and blundered. He added that due to the fact the ‘jumps’ Riders have limited riding opportunities a suspension in the vicinity of 1 to 2 days would be appropriate on this occasion.
Mr Douglas did not seek a deferment to any proposed suspension. He asked the Committee to take into account his clear record.
reasonsforpenalty:
After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Committee determined Mr Douglas’ culpability to be in the mid-range.
The JCA Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of this Rule is 6 to 8 days.
In consideration of penalty, we have taken into account the following factors:
1.-This Rule is part of the Careless Riding ‘family of offences’, and we are mindful that since this Rule came into force in 2017 there has been a reduction in penalties for careless riding.
2.-We are mindful that jumps riders have limited riding opportunities compare to flat riders; and
3.-For consistency we have noted the 3-day suspension imposed on rider L Hemi for a similar breach on 1 May 2021, albeit differing circumstances.
The race films clearly show that four horses jumped the first fence in unison and three including THE FOT who was 3-wide landed awkwardly. All three horses were squeezed and put off balance. THE FOT continued to race 3-wide for some distance before Mr Douglas took a strong hold and slowed the pace. As a result, PRIZED PINS who was directly behind clipped a heel and blundered.
After considering Mr Douglas’ admission of breach, his good record and the above factors the Committee deemed that an appropriate suspension was 2 (national jumps) days.
It is also of note that coincidental with this breach another rider in the race was also charged under the same rule (refer Information number 14034). Whilst the incidents were separate there was a lot going on after the leading horses jumped the first fence awkwardly.
penalty:
Accordingly, Mr Douglas’ Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 2 days commencing after racing on 8 May 2021 and concluding after racing on 14 May 2021.
hearing_type: Hearing
Rules: 638(4)
Informant: Mr B Jones - Stipendiary Steward
JockeysandTrainer: Mr L Douglas - Rider of THE FOT
Otherperson: Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: e8d6da8cdf5e1447d64adb18ae842794
race_expapproval:
racecancelled: 0
race_noreport: 0
race_emailed1: 0
race_emailed2: 0
race_title: R1
submittochair:
race_expappcomment:
race_km:
race_otherexp:
race_chair:
race_pm1:
race_pm2:
meetid: 51d215d981e1d4171e70c8ea4f267f20
meet_expapproval:
meet_noreport: 0
waitingforpublication: 1
meet_emailed1: 0
meet_emailed2: 0
meetdate: 08/05/2021
meet_title: Waikato RC - 8 May 2021
meet_expappcomment:
meet_km:
meet_otherexp:
tracklocation: waikato-rc
meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing
meet_chair: GJones
meet_pm1: BScott
meet_pm2: none
name: Waikato RC