Riccarton Park – Banks Peninsula RC 4 February 2026 – R11 – Darren Danis
ID: RIB63533
Animal Name:
LIFE OF RILEY
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
04/02/2026
Race Club:
Banks Peninsula Racing Club
Race Location:
Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch,
Race Number:
R11
Hearing Date:
04/02/2026
Hearing Location:
Riccarton Park
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Jockey Darren Danis is fined $250
Following the running of Race 11, the Respondent Class A Rider, Darren Danis, admitted a charge alleging excessive whip use prior to the 100 metres in “that when riding LIFE OF RILEY he struck his mount 7 times prior to the 100m with a further 4 inside the final 100 metres.”
The Respondent acknowledged he understood the Rule, the nature of the charge and confirmed his admission of the breach.
Rule 638(3)(g)(i) provides that in a Flat Race a Rider must not:
(i) strike a horse with a whip more than 5 times prior to the 100-metre mark (other than in a slapping motion down the shoulder with the whip hand remaining on the reins); or
Using the available race film, Stipendiary Steward Rebecca Haley, with the assistance of Chief Stipendiary Steward John Oatham, demonstrated that the Respondent struck his mount 7 times from near the 400m to the 100-metre mark. She added that Mr Danis used the whip on a further 4 occasions inside the 100m, excluding him from the exemption under the Rules.
Mr Danis elected to make no submissions in regard to the breach.
Decision
As the Respondent Mr Danis admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved (Rule 915(1)(d) refers).
Submissions for Penalty
Ms Haley produced the Respondent’s record, which indicated a clear record.
She stated the Penalty Guide for an initial breach of excessive whip use for 2 additional strikes was a $250 fine and submitted that a fine commensurate with the Penalty Guide be considered as penalty.
Mr Danis elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty.
Reasons for Penalty
The Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of this nature is set out below.
For breaches of the Whip Rule prior to the 100m mark:
1st offence starting point $250 fine where there are 2 additional strikes
This Adjudicative Committee determined that there were no aggravating factors to consider, therefore no uplift in penalty was warranted.
It was therefore determined that an appropriate penalty in this case was a $250 fine.
Conclusion
The Respondent Mr Danis is fined the sum of $250.
Decision Date: 04/02/2026
Publish Date: 09/02/2026