NZ Metro TC 10 October 2025 – R4 – Riley Harrison

Following the running of Race 4, “Legendary Hanover” Now at Alabar Mobile Pace, Junior Driver, Riley Harrison, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of BRYCE’S MEDDLE in the race, she “shifted outwards near the 2000 metres forcing MAGICIAN (Carter Dalgety) wider on the track” (a breach of the Pushout Rule).

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.

Ms Harrison, a Junior Driver, was assisted at the hearing of the charge by Open Driver, John Dunn.

EVIDENCE:

Chief Stipendiary Steward Nigel McIntyre, showed the available video replays of the incident with approximately 2000 metres to run. He showed the eight-horse field racing in single file, with BRYCE’S MEDDLE, driven by Ms Harrison, racing second-to-last, being trailed by MAGICIAN, driven by Mr Dalgety.

Mr McIntyre said that, as the field turned into the back straight, it was racing very “loose”. He pointed out Mr Dalgety’s runner then get to the wheel of BRYCE’S MEDDLE and Ms Harrison shift out, forcing Mr Dalgety to race 3-wide and have to restrain his runner. Ms Harrison was not entitled to shift out at that stage, he said.

Mr Dunn did not wish to make any comment.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr McIntyre said that Ms Harrison has no breaches of the Rule on her record. She has had 167 drives this season and the same number last season.

Ms Harrison is a Junior Driver and has admitted the breach, Mr McIntyre said. The Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of the Rule is a fine of $200, he said.

Once again, Mr Dunn did not wish to make any submission in relation to penalty on behalf of Ms Harrison.

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.

Ms Harrison is an experienced Junior Driver. There are no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors to be considered. Accordingly, the Adjudicative Committee considers a fine of $200, as per the Penalty Guide, to be the appropriate penalty for the breach.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Licensed Junior Driver, Riley Harrison, is fined $200.