Banks Peninsula TC 23 November 2025 – R10 – Ross Cameron

Following the running of Race 10, Last Minute Pace, Open Driver, Ross Cameron, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of LONNEKERS in the race, he “failed to drive his runner out to the finish when having a reasonable chance of finishing in 4th place”.

Rule 868 provides:

(3)   Every driver shall drive his or her horse out to the end of the race if he or she has any reasonable chance of running first, second, third, fourth, or fifth.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed a video replay of the final stages of the 2170 metres race. He pointed out LONNEKERS, driven by Mr Cameron, at that stage racing outside the leader and challenging for the lead passing the 200 metres.

Mr Williams said that Stewards were alleging that, approximately 50 metres from the finishing line, Mr Cameron, who had been urging his runner, put away his whip and sat motionless to the finishing line, while appearing to comfortably hold 4th placing. LONNEKERS was caught on the line by RUSHKINOFF (Carter Dalgety), which was finishing fast wide on the track, being beaten into 4th placing by that runner, the margin between 4th and 5th being a head, Mr Williams said. Mr Cameron had readily admitted that he was at fault, Mr Williams said.

Mr Cameron said that the horse was fresh-up and had a hard run and had come to the end of it. It had stopped quicker than he thought it would, he said.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that Mr Cameron has had 51 drives this season and has a clear record.

He referred to the starting point for penalty for a breach of the Rule, which is to be determined according to the placing lost – in this case 4th – a 3-day suspension. Stewards believed that a 3-day suspension was an appropriate penalty for this breach.

Mr Cameron requested that any term of suspension be deferred until after the meeting of Methven TC on 30 November.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

This was a clear breach of the Rule. Mr Cameron has failed to drive his runner out to the finish of the race – that is to say, he has not urged his horse to give its full effort in the run to the finishing line – when there was a reasonable chance of finishing 4th. The integrity of Harness Racing requires that he do so. He has frankly admitted his error.

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) provides that, in that situation, the starting point for penalty is a 3-days suspension. There are no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors, notwithstanding that Mr Cameron has a clear record and has admitted the breach.

CONCLUSION:

Mr Cameron’s application for a deferment is granted.

Open Driver, Ross Cameron, is suspended from after the conclusion of racing on 30 November 2025, up to and including 6 December 2025 – 3 days.