R Rotorua 16 November 2025 – R3 – Jasmine Fawcett
ID: RIB60775
Animal Name:
GENKI
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
16/11/2025
Race Club:
Rotorua Racing Club
Race Location:
Arawa Park Racecourse - 274 - 287 Fenton Street, Glenhome, Rotorua, 3010
Race Number:
R3
Hearing Date:
16/11/2025
Hearing Location:
Rotorua
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Rider Jasmine Fawcett is fined $450
Following the running of Race 3, Class A Rider Ms Jasmine Fawcett, admitted a breach of Rule 638(3)(f)(ii). It was alleged she used her whip with her arm raised above shoulder height on one occasion in the last 50 metres, when riding GENKI.
Rule 638(3) provides as follows
(f) … a Rider must not use his or her whip:
(ii) using an action that raises the Rider’s arm above shoulder height.
Ms Fawcett confirmed that she understood the Rule and admitted the charge.
EVIDENCE:
Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley used the race film to prove that Ms Fawcett, riding GENKI, applied one strike using an action that raised her arm above shoulder height in the last 50 metres of the straight.
GENKI finished in fourth place.
Ms Fawcett explained that she had a Rider very close to her outside and she was wanting to give her horse every chance in urging him forward but didn’t want to hit the Rider to the outside. She realised that her arm action was high and that she shouldn’t have hit the horse. She stressed that it wasn’t a question of technique, just an error of judgment. She admitted that she had learnt something on this occasion, and should not have hit the horse or instead, use the whip on the shoulder. She acknowledged that this would be a costly way to learn a lesson.
DECISION:
As Ms Fawcett admitted the charge, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved (Rule 915(1)(d) refer).
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley expressed his concern about the number of charges occurring relating to this Rule and with only a starting point of $250 in the Penalty Guidelines, for the sake of consistency and fairness for the Riders, a similar scale of charges to the excessive whip strikes before the 100 metres may be required. As this charge was 1 strike above shoulder height, he recommended an uplift in fine to $450, from the previous charge resulting in a fine of $350.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The Penalty Guidelines provide a starting point of a fine of $250 for breaches of Rule 638(3)(f)(ii). The Adjudicative Committee recognises that in this instance, Ms Fawcett was aware of her incorrect technique that she used to avoid hitting her outside Rider but chose to break the Rule in urging her horse forward. As this was Ms Fawcett’s third breach, an uplift to $450 was appropriate.
CONCLUSION:
Class A Rider Ms Fawcett is fined $450.
Decision Date: 16/11/2025
Publish Date: 20/11/2025