Methven TC 7 September 2025 – R10 – Angela Mugford

Following the running of Race 10, Midland Seeds Trot, Graduation Driver, Angela Susan Mugford, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of RUTHLESS EMMA in the race, she “shifted wider racing into the first bend, pushing DESBOIS (Gerard O’Reilly) wider on the track”.

Rule 869 provides:

(4)   No driver shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse and/or any other horse or its progress.

(6)   Subject to sub-rule (4) hereof:-

        (b)  a horse during any race shall not be forced to race wider on the track;

        (c)  a horse during a race shall not move ground outwards once the nose of the wider runner coming forward is in line with or past its sulky wheel and until the wider runner going forward is fully past.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, showed video replays of the incident after approximately 400 metres after the start of the 2400 metres standing start trot. He pointed out RUTHLESS EMMA, driven by Ms Mugford, racing five places back on the markers in single file, following GRANNY ROSE (Matthew Williamson). DESBOIS (Gerard O’Reilly) was leading up the one-out line to the outside of RUTHLESS EMMA.

Mr Renault then pointed out GRANNY ROSE shift out into the one-out line and was followed out by RUTHLESS EMMA. The nose of DESBOIS was clearly always outside the helmet of Ms Mugford when Ms Mugford shifted out, and DESBOIS was forced to race wider on the track. Mr O’Reilly was forced to take a hold of his runner, before easing back onto the back of RUTHLESS EMMA. Ms Mugford had obtained a position in the running to which she was not entitled, Mr Renault submitted.

Ms Mugford declined the opportunity to comment.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault said that Ms Mugford has had 16 drives in the current season to date, 29 last season, and has no breaches of the Rule on her record.

The Penalty Guide starting point for a first breach of the Rule is a fine of $200, Mr Renault said. Stewards were submitting that as an appropriate penalty for this breach.

Ms Mugford did not wish to comment.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) suggests a fine of $200 for a first, mid-level breach of the Pushout Rule.

There are no aggravating or mitigating factors to consider and, accordingly, the Adjudicative Committee considers a fine of $200, as per the Penalty Guide, to be the appropriate penalty.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Graduation Driver, Angela Mugford, is fined $200.