Waikato TR 23 August 2025 – R7 – Tayla Mitchell

Background

Following the running of Race 7, the Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (Group 2), the Respondent, Apprentice Rider Ms Tayla Mitchell, admitted a charge alleging excessive whip use prior to the 100 metres.

Ms Mitchell was assisted at the hearing by Class A Rider Mr W Pinn.

The Information alleged that Ms Mitchell struck her mount LHASA 7 times prior to the 100 metres.

Rule 638(3)(g)(i) provides that in a Flat Race a Rider must not:

(i) strike a horse with a whip more than 5 times prior to the 100-metre mark (other than in a slapping motion down the shoulder with the whip hand remaining on the reins);

Evidence

Using the available race films, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones identified LHASA, ridden by Ms Mitchell, racing outside the leader and angling towards the centre of the track as the field entered the home straight. He demonstrated that Ms Mitchell struck her mount 7 times, from the straight entrance to the 100-metre mark. Mr Jones added that from the 100-metre mark to the finish, Ms Mitchell struck her mount a further 5 times.

LHASA finished in second place.

Ms Mitchell agreed with the number of strikes and by way of explanation said, “it was a tight finish in a big race, and I wasn’t thinking right.” In support, Mr Pinn said that he agreed with the Stewards’ assessment of the breach.  He said that it is a privilege for an Apprentice Rider to have a mount in a Group Race, and she was trying her best to win the race.

Decision

As Ms Mitchell admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Jones advised the Adjudicative Committee that this is Ms Mitchell’s fourth breach of the Whip Rule within the (6 month) reset period. Previous breaches include:

13/04/25 – 8 strikes – 6-day suspension

17/05/25 – 8 strikes – 8-day suspension

17/05/25 – same day a further breach – 8 strikes – 8-day suspension

One of the above breaches occurred in a Black Type Race.

Mr Jones submitted that for a fourth breach, the Penalty Guide provides a starting point penalty of a 5 plus day suspension. He recommended that a suspension of 7 days be imposed, considering Ms Mitchell’s record and the fact that this breach occurred in a Group 2 Race. He also pointed out the Penalty Guide provides for a fine of 50% of the Rider’s share of stake money earned. He added that as Ms Mitchell is an Apprentice Rider, her share of the stakemoney would generally be shared with her employer and on that basis, a lesser fine may be appropriate.

Ms Mitchell did not seek to defer and proposed suspension.   On her behalf, Mr Pinn said that a fine in addition to a suspension, was harsh.

Reasons for Penalty

Ms Mitchell struck her mount 7 times prior to the 100 metres. A defence is available to a Rider who strikes their mount 7 times prior to the 100 metres and then applies no more than 3 strikes between the 100 metres and the finish. On this occasion, Ms Mitchell struck her mount a further 5 times in the final 100 metres. The defence is therefore not available to her.

This is now Ms Mitchell’s fourth whip breach within the 6-month reset period.

The Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of this nature is a 5 (+) day suspension, plus a fine, being 50% of a Rider’s share of the stake. In this case, Ms Mitchell’s share of the stake is $695, but because she is an Apprentice Rider, typically she will share up to half of that with her employer.  Therefore, her actual money earned will be in the vicinity of about $350. Although the Penalty Guide does not explicitly recommend, for whip breaches, that a concession should be made for a fine imposed on an Apprentice in a Black-Type Race, there is a general intent within the Guide relating to Apprentices who breach careless riding provisions in Black-Type Races, specifically: “Concessions may be considered with respect to fines imposed on Apprentice Jockeys”. The Adjudicative Committee believes that this is a sensible approach, given that Apprentice Riders share their stakemoney with their employer. Otherwise, a significant inequity would arise between Class A (Senior Riders) and Class B (Apprentice Riders) in these circumstances. Accordingly, in addition to a suspension, a fine of $450 is imposed.

Due to the status of the race, the stakes payable and the fact that Ms Mitchell’s mount finished second, the Adjudicative Committee applied a 2-day suspension uplift to the starting point.

Therefore, after considering the circumstances of the breach and the submissions, a 7-day suspension is imposed, plus a $450 fine.

Conclusion

Ms Mitchell’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from the conclusion of racing on Saturday 23 August, up to and including racing on Friday 5 September, 7 national riding days and in addition, a fine of $450 is imposed.