Wellington RC – 9 July 2005 – Race 3

Following the running of Race 3 and an unsuccessful protest against Lord Spectrum or its rider, Mr McCutcheon charged Ms Cropp with careless riding. This was in respect of the same incident as was the subject of the protest. Ms Cropp did not admit the breach of the rule.

Mr McCutcheon called Mr Harrison, Stipendiary Steward, to give evidence using video footage of the closing stages of the race, from back, front and side perspectives. Mr Harrison's evidence was that Ms Cropp's horse, Lord Spectrum, was hanging most of the way down the straight but nevertheless was running in a straight line until about 50 metres from the finish line when Ms Cropp started riding it, out using the whip. From that point to the finish line, the horse shifted out some four horses' width, dictating the line of Donna Jazz (ridden by K Meyers). At no stage in that last 50 metres did Ms Cropp take any action to correct the horses' outward movement.

Ms Cropp gave evidence about the difficulties she had with the horse. She considered that she had done everything she possibly could to keep it running straight.

The Committee found that Lord Spectrum commenced to shift out when about 50 metres from the finish line and Ms Cropp started using her whip. It then continued to shift out until the finish. Donna Jazz was on its outside and Lord Spectrum was insufficiently clear of that horse when the outward movement began and for the rest of the race. The result was that Lord Spectrum dictated the line of Donna Jazz for the last 50m of the race thereby interfering with that horse.

The fact that the horse shifted out did not amount to careless riding on Ms Cropp's part. However, the Committee found that she did not make any effort at all to correct her mount's outward movement and her failure in that regard did amount to careless riding.

Mr McCutcheon noted that Ms Cropp was last suspended for careless riding on 9 December 2004 and was fined $750. He accepted that she had a good race riding record but considered that her failure to take any action to correct her horse's outward movement on this occasion when it was dictating the line of another horse was serious enough to warrant suspension.

Ms Cropp suggested that she was in a unique position in that she was riding for a record number of winners in the season. She said a 3 or 5 day suspension would prevent her from gaining that record and asked for some more lenient penalty.

The Committee noted that Ms Cropp had an excellent race riding record, particularly given the number of rides she has had this year. It noted too that her horse was hanging down the straight and was a difficult ride for her, although it noted also that the charge had not been proved because of the actions of the horse but because of Ms Cropp's failure to take steps to correct the horse's action. That failure caused interference to Donna Jazz and was a sufficiently serious matter as to warrant suspension.

The Committee considered that the degree of culpability was in the middle of the scale and would normally warrant a suspension of 3-4 days. The Committee did not take into account the fact that Ms Cropp was riding for a record as that was not a relevant consideration. However she deserved credit for her very good race riding record and that would be reflected in the penalty.

Ms Cropp was suspended from after the close of racing on Wednesday 13 July 2005 until after close of racing on Friday 15 July 2005.  She was also fined $500.