Ashburton TC 1 June 2025 – R5 – Peter Hunter
ID: RIB55660
Animal Name:
Havtimetodream
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
01/06/2025
Race Club:
Ashburton Trotting Club
Race Location:
Ashburton Racecourse - Racecourse Road, Ashburton, 7700
Race Number:
R5
Hearing Date:
01/06/2025
Hearing Location:
Ashburton Racecourse, Ashburton
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Open Driver, Peter Hunter, is suspended for 3 days
Following the running of Race 5, Helen Pope 2YO Fillies Classic Mobile Pace (Group 3), Open Driver, Peter Hunter, admitted a breach of the Whip Rules in that, as the Driver of HAVTIMETODREAM in the race, he “used his whip free of the rein on one occasion in the run home”.
Rule 869 provides:
(2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.
The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:
3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, showed a video replay of the final 200 metres of the race. He pointed out HAVTIMETODREAM, driven by Mr Hunter, being drawn out from the one-out, one-back position as the seven-horse field turned into the final straight. He then showed, shortly thereafter, Mr Hunter reining his horse and activate gear, turning his whip and using it on one occasion free of the rein. He quickly corrected and went back to the rein, Mr Renault said.
Mr Hunter declined the opportunity to comment.
DECISION:
The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Renault said that Mr Hunter has had 48 drives this season and, last season, had 115 drives. He has a clear record.
The breach was low-level, but it was a Group 3 Race. The Penalty Guide suggests a starting point of a 3-days suspension for a Group 3 Race. That is the lowest penalty for a breach in a Group Race, Mr Renault said.
Mr Hunter said that he did correct immediately and a 3-days suspension was a stiff penalty for the breach.
Mr Renault said that Mr Hunter is predominantly an Otago/Southland Driver.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) provides a starting point for penalty for a first breach in a Group 3 Race of a 3-days suspension. The breach was low-level involving, as it did, just a single strike free of the rein. However, it was a Group 3 Race. There were no aggravating or mitigating factors.
CONCLUSION:
Mr Hunter’s Open Driver’s Licence is suspended from after the close of racing on 2 June 2025, up to and including 26 June 2025 – 3 days.
Decision Date: 01/06/2025
Publish Date: 04/06/2025