Rangiora HRC 24 August 2025 – R1 (heard 17 October 2025 at Addington) – Daniel Roberts

Information A20119 was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, at the meeting of Rangiora HRC at Rangiora Raceway on 24 August 2025 against Licensed Advanced Amateur Driver, Daniel Roberts, alleging a breach of Rule 507(1) in that he “broke the engagement to drive ARCHIE” in Race 1, RHRC Membership Available 2025/2026 Mobile Pace, at that meeting.

The Information was filed on the raceday and adjourned. It was heard at the meeting of NZ Metropolitan TC at Addington Raceway on 17 October 2025.

Mr Roberts had signed the Information form “I do admit a breach of the rule” and he confirmed that at the hearing.

BACKGROUND:

Rule 507 provides as follows:

(1)   No driver shall break an engagement to drive a horse.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward Matt Sole, said that Mr Roberts was the notified driver of ARCHIE, trained by Joseph Gray, an acceptor for Race 1, RHRC Membership Available 2025/2026 Mobile Pace, a race for Amateur Drivers.

The Trainer Mr Gray, had the horse geared up and ready to go out onto the track, when it became apparent that Mr Roberts was not going to arrive to take the drive, Mr Sole said. Because the race was for Amateur Drivers only, a suitable replacement Driver could not be found, resulting in ARCHIE having to be a late scratching from the race, he said.

Mr Roberts had broken his engagement to drive ARCHIE, Mr Sole said.

Mr Roberts said that he had made a mistake as to the start time of the race. He was about to leave home when it was brought to his attention, he said.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, it was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Sole said Mr Roberts, unsurprisingly, has a clear record under the Rule. He added that the Penalty Guide provides a starting point for a breach of the Rule of a $200 fine. He referred to the penalty imposed by the Adjudicative Committee in a recent case, a $250 fine, in which a Driver did not arrive on course, but a late replacement was able to be found for that Driver.

Mr Sole asked the Adjudicative Committee, to consider that it was an aggravating factor, that Stewards were put in a position in which they were forced to scratch the horse. He submitted that a fine of $400 would be an appropriate penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) suggests a starting point for penalty for a breach of the Rule of a $200 fine. However, in arriving at penalty, the Adjudicative Committee could not overlook the circumstances of the breach. Mr Roberts’ explanation for missing the drive was not acceptable. He caused greater disruption to Trainers, connections and Stewards, resulting in some last-minute anxiety for those persons, before the horse was scratched, as a Driver could not be found. The late scratching of ARCHIE cost its connections a stake of $175 and denied them the opportunity of earning more.

This amounted to an aggravating factor, warranting an uplift to the starting point. The uplift is set at $100.

CONCLUSION:

Advanced Amateur Driver, Dan Roberts, is fined the sum of $300.