Archive Decision

This decision has been migrated from the JCA website. Information is accurate but formatting may differ from contemporary decisions. Please contact us for any further enquiries.

Woodville-Pahiatua RC 21 April 2016 – R 6 – Chair, Mr T Castles

ID: JCA12349

Applicant:
Mr N Goodwin - Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Mr J Riddell - Licensed Jockey

Information Number:
A3371

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Excessive use of the Whip

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

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Woodville - Pahiatua RC - 21 April 2016

Meet Chair:
TCastles

Meet Committee Member 1:
PWilliams

Race Date:
2016/04/21

Race Number:
R 6

Decision:

The charge was deemed proved.

Penalty:

Mr Riddell you are fined $250.

Facts:

After the running of race 6 at Woodville the NZB PEARL SERIES RACE, Jockey J Riddell admitted a breach of rule 638 (3) ( B) in that he used his whip excessively prior to the 200 metres.

The rule reads 'A rider shall not strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is excessive'.

Mr Riddell confirmed his admittance and understanding of the rule.

The available films of the incident were shown and commented on by Mr Goodwin. He informed the committee it was the Stewards' belief that the horse concerned SHE'S A GOOD BET was struck 12 times without respite prior to the 200 metre mark. Mr Goodwin stated that the horse concerned was not an easy horse to ride as it had a history of hanging badly and the Stewards had requested that it be sent back to the trials before appearing at race day. This had been done and today was its first start back since the trial.

He commented that the horse, in his opinion, needed an experienced jockey and Mr Riddell using his experience had improved the horse's racing manners. However, in improving its racing performance he had used the whip excessively in the run to the 200 metre mark.

Mr N Breslin, the trainer of SHE'S A GOOD BET asked to make comment on the horse's racing manner. He confirmed it was a difficult horse to ride and it had been sent back to the trials for further education. Jockey J Riddell had been engaged to ride the horse because of his experience and was instructed to keep the horse running straight. Mr Breslin believed the whip use was for the horse's benefit.

Mr Riddell had little to say except to confirm that the horse was difficult to ride. He felt that the whip use certainly helped in keeping the horse from hanging but did agree the whip was used excessively.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Goodwin informed the committee that this was Mr Riddell's first charge under this rule. He is a senior and very experienced rider who has ridden over fences as well as on the flat. His services are sought after for horses that do have racing manners needing improvement. On this occasion, however, he exceeded the rule. He felt the breach would best be handled by a fine.

Mr Riddell confirmed that this was his first charge under the rule and expressed his disappointment with himself over the breach.

Reasons for Penalty:

In coming to its decision to impose a fine for the breach the committee took into account Mr Riddell's admittance of the breach and his excellent record. The horse was clearly a handful for its rider and Mr Riddell's experience certainly contributed to its improvement. However the whip use was excessive. The guidelines indicate a starting point for a first breach of the rule as a $500 fine or a two day suspension. The committee in this case was adamant a fine should be imposed and that a substantial reduction be accorded Mr Riddell because of his excellent record over many years under this rule.

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: 5113c63e73b9b2c191af4e6d36bee16c


informantnumber: A3371


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Excessive use of the Whip


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 24/04/2016


hearing_title: Woodville-Pahiatua RC 21 April 2016 - R 6 - Chair, Mr T Castles


charge:


facts:

After the running of race 6 at Woodville the NZB PEARL SERIES RACE, Jockey J Riddell admitted a breach of rule 638 (3) ( B) in that he used his whip excessively prior to the 200 metres.

The rule reads 'A rider shall not strike a horse with a whip in a manner or to an extent which is excessive'.

Mr Riddell confirmed his admittance and understanding of the rule.

The available films of the incident were shown and commented on by Mr Goodwin. He informed the committee it was the Stewards' belief that the horse concerned SHE'S A GOOD BET was struck 12 times without respite prior to the 200 metre mark. Mr Goodwin stated that the horse concerned was not an easy horse to ride as it had a history of hanging badly and the Stewards had requested that it be sent back to the trials before appearing at race day. This had been done and today was its first start back since the trial.

He commented that the horse, in his opinion, needed an experienced jockey and Mr Riddell using his experience had improved the horse's racing manners. However, in improving its racing performance he had used the whip excessively in the run to the 200 metre mark.

Mr N Breslin, the trainer of SHE'S A GOOD BET asked to make comment on the horse's racing manner. He confirmed it was a difficult horse to ride and it had been sent back to the trials for further education. Jockey J Riddell had been engaged to ride the horse because of his experience and was instructed to keep the horse running straight. Mr Breslin believed the whip use was for the horse's benefit.

Mr Riddell had little to say except to confirm that the horse was difficult to ride. He felt that the whip use certainly helped in keeping the horse from hanging but did agree the whip was used excessively.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

The charge was deemed proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Goodwin informed the committee that this was Mr Riddell's first charge under this rule. He is a senior and very experienced rider who has ridden over fences as well as on the flat. His services are sought after for horses that do have racing manners needing improvement. On this occasion, however, he exceeded the rule. He felt the breach would best be handled by a fine.

Mr Riddell confirmed that this was his first charge under the rule and expressed his disappointment with himself over the breach.


reasonsforpenalty:

In coming to its decision to impose a fine for the breach the committee took into account Mr Riddell's admittance of the breach and his excellent record. The horse was clearly a handful for its rider and Mr Riddell's experience certainly contributed to its improvement. However the whip use was excessive. The guidelines indicate a starting point for a first breach of the rule as a $500 fine or a two day suspension. The committee in this case was adamant a fine should be imposed and that a substantial reduction be accorded Mr Riddell because of his excellent record over many years under this rule.


penalty:

Mr Riddell you are fined $250.


hearing_type: Hearing


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


Informant: Mr N Goodwin - Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Mr J Riddell - Licensed Jockey


Otherperson:


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: 899738a2e833248c0ebe01572aabebc9


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: e5195ad93b7f29d3160a54cad72280cb


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 21/04/2016


meet_title: Woodville - Pahiatua RC - 21 April 2016


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: woodville-pahiatua-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: TCastles


meet_pm1: PWilliams


meet_pm2: none


name: Woodville - Pahiatua RC