Reefton TC 9 March 2025 – R5 – Ricky May

Summary of Facts:

Following the running of Race 5, the Respondent Open Driver Ricky May denied a breach of Rule 869(3)(b); namely that when driving TROUBLESHOOTER drove carelessly, late in the run home by allowing his horse to shift inwards checking KOTARE KELSO, which broke.

The Respondent, Mr May, endorsed the Information ‘I do not admit the breach of the Rule’ and confirmed he understood the Rule, his denial of the breach and the nature of the charge.

Rule 869(3)(b) provides:

No driver in any race shall drive carelessly.

Using available video footage, Stipendiary Steward Matt Sole, with the assistance of Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, identified the horses involved in the incident close to the finish line, namely, TROUBLESHOOTER, driven by Mr May, racing 5-6 wide, with KOTARE KELSO, driven by Sam Thornley, racing to the inside of Mr May approaching the 20m. Mr Renault showed on the replays that near the 20m, Mr May, when driving TROUBLESHOOTER out and in a tight finish, activated the hood and allowed his drive to shift inwards and as a result, KOTARE KELSO’s hind leg has struck the wheel of TROUBLESHOOTER, with KOTARE KELSO going rough for a few strides and breaking just before the line. He stated that an enquiry as to whether KOTARE KELSO was lapped on, was held, with the horse holding its placing, due to the inference received from TROUBLESHOOTER.

Mr May, in defense, stated that KOTARE KELSO was a rough pacer and at Westport, had paced roughly throughout its race there. He said that it would not have taken much for the horse to go rough and break in the concluding stages of the race. Mr May had Mr Thornley give evidence, who confirmed the rough action of KOTARE KELSO during the running of the race. Mr Thornley stated, in relation to the incident, that he did not feel or hear anything in regard to the contact with his horse’s leg and the sulky wheel of TROUBLESHOOTER. He argued that KOTARE KELSO was only going rough when crossing the line and in his opinion, said the interference was just a race day incident, no one Driver’s fault.

Mr May continued with his defense, stating that TROUBLESHOOTER was laying in throughout the home run and when he was about 30m from the post, he activated the hood, which he said he would have been in trouble with the Stewards if he hadn’t done so. He argued that he was doing his best to keep his horse on as straight a line as possible and when activating the hood, still had a firm hold on the outside rein in order to keep the horse straight. This was shown, he said, on the replays as TROUBLESHOOTER’S head was angled out throughout the final stages. Mr May stated that the contact with the wheel was minimal and possibly only a slight brush, he said. He added that the incident would not and did not, change the race placings finished up. He argued that there was not a lot more he could do in the situation, as he was doing his best to keep the horse straight, drive to the conditions and get the best result for the connections.

 The Decision:

This Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that 20m from the line, Mr May’s drive, TROUBLESHOOTER, has shifted in when laying in and as a result, KOTARE KELSO’s leg has brushed the wheel of TROUBLESHOOTER, who then paced roughly for a couple of strides, before breaking approximately 6m from the line. The Adjudicative Committee was further satisfied that when Mr May has activated the hood on TROUBLESHOOTER, the horse has shifted in slightly more, enough for the contact to be made between the leg of KOTARE KELSO and the sulky wheel of TROUBLESHOOTER. Of interest, the Oxford Dictionary describes the adjective careless “as not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors”. In applying that definition and after careful consideration, the Adjudicative Committee has determined Mr May was doing his best with a difficult horse to maintain his horse’s direction and when activating the hood, was still keeping firm pressure on the outside rein, confirmed by the replays showing TROUBLESHOOTER’S head on an outward angle, in order to keep the the horse as straight as possible and out of harm’s way. Taking all factors into account, this Adjudicative Committee is not satisfied, to the required standard, that on this occasion, Mr May has driven carelessly in this incident. The charge is therefore dismissed.