NZ Metro TC 22 August 2025 – R3 – Seth William Hill

Following the running of Race 3, VIP Electrical Solutions (Junior Drivers) Mobile Pace, Licensed Junior Driver, Seth Hill, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of QUICKER THAN QUICK in the race, he “drove carelessly when striking the wheel of MIDNIGHT BABE (Devon Dolan) near the 600 metres”.

Mr Hill was assisted at the hearing by Licensed Open Driver, John Dunn.

Rule 869 provides as follows:

(3)  No driver in any race shall drive:-

       (b)  carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Vinny Munro, showed video replays of the incident, as the field approached the turn out of the back straight, with approximately 600 metres to race. He pointed out the tiring, THE MANTIS, which had been racing parked, MIDNIGHT BABE, driven by Devon Dolan, racing in the one out, one back position and QUICKER THAN QUICK, driven by Mr Hill, racing on the back of that runner.

Mr Munro then pointed out Mr Hill commence to shift out and, in doing so, strike the outside sulky wheel of Mrs Dolan’s runner. The tyre deflated immediately, he said.

Mr Dunn said that, prior to coming out, Mr Hill’s runner, which was wearing a boring pole on its outside, had “thrown its head” a few times, and this did not help, he submitted.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Munro said that Mr Hill has had 339 lifetime drives, 167 drives this season. He has a previous breach on his record – at Addington on 19 March 2023, suspended 2 days for careless driving striking a wheel (2nd breach).

He referred to the Penalty Guide, which provides a starting point for penalty for a second breach of careless driving striking a wheel, of a 3-days suspension. That would be an appropriate penalty, Mr Munro submitted.

Mr Munro said that the consequences were that MIDNIGHT BABE sustained a punctured sulky wheel tyre.

Mr Hill asked that any term of suspension commence after the meeting of Rangiora HRC on 24 August, at which meeting he has a number of notified drives.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) suggests a starting point for penalty of a 3-days suspension for a second breach of careless driving striking a wheel, “the consequences of the action going to penalty”. Those consequences, in this case, are self-evident, with MIDNIGHT BABE having to drag a punctured sulky tyre for the final 600 metres of the race. Of course, it is impossible to accurately assess the actual effect on that runner, but it is fair to say, that it would likely have suffered some drag and performance loss.

The Adjudicative Committee noted that MIDNIGHT BABE finished 10th of the 12 runners, 14 lengths from the winner.  The consequences offset the mitigating factor of Mr Hill’s admission of the breach, and the Penalty Guide starting point is, therefore, an appropriate penalty.

CONCLUSION:

Licensed Junior Driver, Seth Hill, is suspended from after the close of racing on 24 August 2025, up to and including 4 September 2025 – 3 days.