Hororata TC 12 February 2023 – R7 – Darren Keast
ID: RIB15587
Animal Name:
Castelo De Vide
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
12/02/2023
Race Club:
Hororata Trotting Club
Race Location:
Methven Racecourse - 47 Mount Hutt Station Road, Methven, 7782
Race Number:
R7
Hearing Date:
12/02/2023
Hearing Location:
Mt Harding Racecourse, Methven
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Junior Driver, Darren Keast, suspended 4 days
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 7, Nufarm Revell Douglas Junior Drivers Series Handicap Pace, Junior Driver, Darren Keast, as the Driver of CASTELO DE VIDE in the race, admitted a charge of using his whip in more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.
The Respondent waived the right to be assisted by a Senior Driver.
Rule 869 provides:
(2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.
The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:
3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed a video replay of the final 300 metres of the race. He pointed out CASTELO DE VIDE, driven by the Respondent, racing in the trail behind the leader as the field turned into the final straight. He showed that the Respondent commenced using his whip, and used in more than a wrist only flicking motion for a distance in excess of 100 metres in the early and middle stages of the home straight, before reverting to a compliant style in the final stages.
DECISION:
The charge is admitted and is therefore deemed proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Williams said that the breach was in the mid-to-high range, because of the number of strikes and the distance over which they occurred.
Mr Williams said that the Respondent does not drive very often – in the last two completed seasons, he has had only 4 drives and in the current season, 1 drive.
The penalty starting point for a high-level first offence is a 3-days suspension, Mr Williams said. Because of the circumstances of the breach a 4-days suspension was appropriate, he submitted.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The Adjudicative Committee agreed with Mr Williams’ submission that this breach was high-level as defined in the HRNZ Whip Penalty Guide, that is to say – “when a driver inadvertently reverts to the old style (freehand, loose reining and/or more than a flicking motion) and continues to drive in this manner for some distance (50 metres) before taking corrective steps to return to a compliant style”. The breach comprised two strikes free of the rein.
For a first-level breach such as this, the starting point for penalty under the RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (effective 1 February 2023) is a 3-days suspension. In this case, it is considered an aggravating factor that the offending strikes took place over considerably more than 50 metres. A 1-day uplift is applied.
CONCLUSION:
The Respondent, Junior Driver, Darren Keast, is suspended for 4 days commencing on 13 February 2023 and concluding on 25 February 2023.
Decision Date: 12/02/2023
Publish Date: 14/02/2023