Wyndham HRC 25 February 2012 – R 7 (heard on 17 March 2012 at Winton)
ID: JCA18766
Hearing Type (Code):
harness-racing
Meet Title:
Wyndham HRC - 25 February 2012
Meet Chair:
RMcKenzie
Meet Committee Member 1:
ADennis
Race Date:
2012/02/25
Race Number:
R7
Decision:
RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION
Informant: Mr C J Allison (Stipendiary Steward)
Defendant: Mr A L Stratford (Open Horseman) – FLYING DIAMONDS
Information No: A5984
Meeting: Wyndham Harness Racing Club
Date: 25 February, 2012 (heard on 17 March 2012 at Winton)
Venue: Wyndham
Race: 7
Rule No: 869(4)
Judicial Committee: N D Skelt, Chairman – A G Dennis Committee Member
Plea: Not Admitted
Also Present: B Williamson (Junior Driver) - MOTU SPEEDY STAR, N Williamson (Senior Horseman supporting Mr B Williamson)
CHARGES:
This hearing is a result of an adjourned hearing at the Wyndham Harness Meeting held on the 25th February 2012.
Mr Stratford (FLYING DIAMONDS) was charged under rule 869(4), Stipendiary Steward, Mr Allison alleging that in race 7, The Kina Craig Stud Wyndham Cup Special Handicap Pace, Mr A L Stratford, the driver of FLYING DIAMONDS drove in a manner which was likely to cause interference when he placed pressure on MOTU SPEEDY STAR (B Williamson) from the 1000 metre mark and forcing MOTU SPEEDY STAR wider on the track with approximately 250 metres to run.
Mr Stratford did not admit the breach.
Rule 869
(4) No horseman shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse or any other horse or its progress.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward Mr Allison showed the Committee several video clips of the alleged incident. It was pointed out the track conditions on the day were slushy, and difficult for all concerned.
At approximately the 1000 metre mark Mr Allison pointed out where Mr Stratford (FLYING DIAMONDS) and Mr B Williamson (MOTU SPEEDY STAR) were racing at the back of the field in the 3200 metre race, Mr Stratford then worked hard to get into the three wide lane with Mr Williamson directly racing on his inside. Mr Allison then believed that Mr Stratford had forced his way in when there was insufficient room for him to do so.
Mr B Williamson (MOTU SPEEDY STAR) then stated that he had put some pressure on Mr Stratford’s horse (FLYING DIAMONDS) initially, forcing Mr Stratford to race wider on the track.
Mr Williamson continued to state that further on in the race Mr Stratford had come back in, “I let him back in, the gap was too tight” he stated.
Mr Williamson also stated that his horse was not affected in any way.
Mr N Williamson (Senior Horseman) who was supporting his younger brother stated that he believed the pressure was coming from the outside.
Mr Stratford stated that there was no contact made at any point in the alleged first incident, and that his move was a normal racing manoeuvre. He also stated that Mr Williamson did not have to restrain his horse at any point to let him in.
Attention then moved to the alleged second incident, at the 250 metre mark.
Stipendiary Steward, Mr Allison stated that Mr Stratford had moved outwards at the top of the home straight pushing Mr Williamson wider on the track.
Mr Allison believed Mr Stratford had intentionally moved out his horse and cart into Mr Williamson’s line.
Mr B Williamson stated that his horse was pushed wider on the track, but acknowledged that his horse was well spent at this point and no interference took place.
Mr N Williamson stated that on the home turn Mr Stratford should have kept his horse in a straight line.
Mr Stratford stated that he had clearly run out at the home straight and that could be attributed to the conditions of the day, and his horse being exceptionally tired after a big run. He continued to state that he had also moved outwards also to allow those horses inside him to also gain some racing room.
Mr Stratford also stated that no contact had been made at any point.
Mr Allison concluded by stating that both alleged incidents were of concern to the Stipendiary Stewards.
DECISION:
The Committee carefully considered all of the video evidence, and the submissions from all parties.
The first alleged incident in our opinion was not conclusive , the video and oral evidence conflicted and the Committee was satisfied that there may have been sufficient room for Mr Stratford to move inwards , it was however clear that no contact was made , or any horse disadvantaged.
As a result the Committee dismissed the initial alleged incident.
In the second alleged incident all parties agreed that Mr Stratford had moved outwards. Stipendiary Steward Mr Allison was of the opinion that Mr Stratford had intentionally moved out.
The Committee was not satisfied this was the case, the video evidence and oral evidence was not conclusive concerning this matter.
The Committee was of the opinion that the slushy track, appalling weather conditions and the alleged incident occurred at the end of a gruelling 3200 metre run race, which, all of these factors may have contributed to the alleged incident.
The Committee in finding the charge not proved, used its discretion.
Mr Stratford however was reminded by the Committee of his professional obligations and responsibilities out on the race track.
N D Skelt, A G Dennis
Chairman Committee Member
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: 228e7be2a4cbd2570bf3564f1e028cf6
informantnumber:
horsename:
hearing_racingtype: harness-racing
startdate: 25/02/2012
newcharge:
plea:
penaltyrequired:
decisiondate: no date provided
hearing_title: Wyndham HRC 25 February 2012 - R 7 (heard on 17 March 2012 at Winton)
charge:
facts:
appealdecision:
isappeal:
submissionsfordecision:
reasonsfordecision:
Decision:
RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION
Informant: Mr C J Allison (Stipendiary Steward)
Defendant: Mr A L Stratford (Open Horseman) – FLYING DIAMONDS
Information No: A5984
Meeting: Wyndham Harness Racing Club
Date: 25 February, 2012 (heard on 17 March 2012 at Winton)
Venue: Wyndham
Race: 7
Rule No: 869(4)
Judicial Committee: N D Skelt, Chairman – A G Dennis Committee Member
Plea: Not Admitted
Also Present: B Williamson (Junior Driver) - MOTU SPEEDY STAR, N Williamson (Senior Horseman supporting Mr B Williamson)
CHARGES:
This hearing is a result of an adjourned hearing at the Wyndham Harness Meeting held on the 25th February 2012.
Mr Stratford (FLYING DIAMONDS) was charged under rule 869(4), Stipendiary Steward, Mr Allison alleging that in race 7, The Kina Craig Stud Wyndham Cup Special Handicap Pace, Mr A L Stratford, the driver of FLYING DIAMONDS drove in a manner which was likely to cause interference when he placed pressure on MOTU SPEEDY STAR (B Williamson) from the 1000 metre mark and forcing MOTU SPEEDY STAR wider on the track with approximately 250 metres to run.
Mr Stratford did not admit the breach.
Rule 869
(4) No horseman shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse or any other horse or its progress.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward Mr Allison showed the Committee several video clips of the alleged incident. It was pointed out the track conditions on the day were slushy, and difficult for all concerned.
At approximately the 1000 metre mark Mr Allison pointed out where Mr Stratford (FLYING DIAMONDS) and Mr B Williamson (MOTU SPEEDY STAR) were racing at the back of the field in the 3200 metre race, Mr Stratford then worked hard to get into the three wide lane with Mr Williamson directly racing on his inside. Mr Allison then believed that Mr Stratford had forced his way in when there was insufficient room for him to do so.
Mr B Williamson (MOTU SPEEDY STAR) then stated that he had put some pressure on Mr Stratford’s horse (FLYING DIAMONDS) initially, forcing Mr Stratford to race wider on the track.
Mr Williamson continued to state that further on in the race Mr Stratford had come back in, “I let him back in, the gap was too tight” he stated.
Mr Williamson also stated that his horse was not affected in any way.
Mr N Williamson (Senior Horseman) who was supporting his younger brother stated that he believed the pressure was coming from the outside.
Mr Stratford stated that there was no contact made at any point in the alleged first incident, and that his move was a normal racing manoeuvre. He also stated that Mr Williamson did not have to restrain his horse at any point to let him in.
Attention then moved to the alleged second incident, at the 250 metre mark.
Stipendiary Steward, Mr Allison stated that Mr Stratford had moved outwards at the top of the home straight pushing Mr Williamson wider on the track.
Mr Allison believed Mr Stratford had intentionally moved out his horse and cart into Mr Williamson’s line.
Mr B Williamson stated that his horse was pushed wider on the track, but acknowledged that his horse was well spent at this point and no interference took place.
Mr N Williamson stated that on the home turn Mr Stratford should have kept his horse in a straight line.
Mr Stratford stated that he had clearly run out at the home straight and that could be attributed to the conditions of the day, and his horse being exceptionally tired after a big run. He continued to state that he had also moved outwards also to allow those horses inside him to also gain some racing room.
Mr Stratford also stated that no contact had been made at any point.
Mr Allison concluded by stating that both alleged incidents were of concern to the Stipendiary Stewards.
DECISION:
The Committee carefully considered all of the video evidence, and the submissions from all parties.
The first alleged incident in our opinion was not conclusive , the video and oral evidence conflicted and the Committee was satisfied that there may have been sufficient room for Mr Stratford to move inwards , it was however clear that no contact was made , or any horse disadvantaged.
As a result the Committee dismissed the initial alleged incident.
In the second alleged incident all parties agreed that Mr Stratford had moved outwards. Stipendiary Steward Mr Allison was of the opinion that Mr Stratford had intentionally moved out.
The Committee was not satisfied this was the case, the video evidence and oral evidence was not conclusive concerning this matter.
The Committee was of the opinion that the slushy track, appalling weather conditions and the alleged incident occurred at the end of a gruelling 3200 metre run race, which, all of these factors may have contributed to the alleged incident.
The Committee in finding the charge not proved, used its discretion.
Mr Stratford however was reminded by the Committee of his professional obligations and responsibilities out on the race track.
N D Skelt, A G Dennis
Chairman Committee Member
sumissionsforpenalty:
reasonsforpenalty:
penalty:
hearing_type: Old Hearing
Rules: 869(4)
Informant:
JockeysandTrainer:
Otherperson:
PersonPresent:
Respondent:
StipendSteward:
raceid: 0e8f8807cf133115755c8576b6ae2fb0
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race_emailed1: 0
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race_title: R7
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meetdate: 25/02/2012
meet_title: Wyndham HRC - 25 February 2012
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meet_racingtype: harness-racing
meet_chair: RMcKenzie
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name: Wyndham HRC