Auckland TR 23 April 2025 – R4 – Ashlee Strawbridge

ID: RIB54225

Respondent(s):
Ashlee Jane Strawbridge - Apprentice Jockey

Applicant:
Mr A Dooley - Stipendiary Steward

Adjudicators:
Mr G Jones

Persons Present:
Mr Dooley, Mrs Fisher - Stipendiary Steward, Ms Strawbridge, Mrs D Sweeney (Trainer assisting Ms Strawbridge)

Information Number:
A19220

Decision Type:
Race Related Charge

Charge:
Fail to ride mount out to the finish

Rule(s):
636(1)(d) - Riding/driving infringement

Plea:
Admitted

Animal Name:
BONNIE GEM

Code:
Thoroughbred

Race Date:
23/04/2025

Race Club:
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing

Race Location:
Pukekohe Park - 222/250 Manukau Road, Pukekohe Hill, Pukekohe, 2120

Race Number:
R4

Hearing Date:
23/04/2025

Hearing Location:
Pukekohe

Outcome: Proved

Penalty: Apprentice Jockey Ashlee Strawbridge is suspended for 3 weeks

Evidence

Following the running of Race 4,  Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley filed an Information pursuant to Rule 636(1)(d). It was alleged that Apprentice Rider Ms Ashlee Strawbridge failed to ride BONNIE GEM out to the finish when there was a reasonable chance of finishing in second place.

Ms Strawbridge acknowledged that she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach. She was supported in the hearing by her Employer, Trainer Mrs Debbie Sweeney.

Rule 636(1)(d) provides:  A person being the rider of a horse in a race must ride his or her horse out to the end of the race if there is a reasonable chance of it running into a position for which there is prize money to be awarded or a dividend to be declared.

Using the available Race films, Stipendiary Steward, Mrs V Fisher demonstrated the incident.

Mrs Fisher said that BONNIE GEM was racing close to the lead on the inner, and over the concluding stages, commenced to lay out when struck with the whip.  She said that Ms Strawbridge corrected her mount, but it continued to lay out.  Once straightened, Ms Strawbridge eased her mount for 3 to 4 strides prior to the winning post.

Mrs Fisher said BONNIE GEM’S racing manners were a factor and Ms Strawbridge misjudged the position of the winning post.

Mrs Fisher said that BONNIE GEM finished 3rd and Stewards felt that had she not eased, may have finished in second place.  The margin between 2nd and 3rd was a head.

In response, Mrs Sweeney on behalf of Ms Strawbridge, stated there are several mitigating in her favour. She said that BONNIE GEM ran out under pressure and Ms Strawbridge simply misjudged the finish. She added that this was the first time Ms Strawbridge had ridden at Pukekohe.

Decision:

As the Respondent admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley said that Ms Strawbridge has only recently commenced race riding and so far has had 9 race day rides to date.  He said that there were a number of mitigating factors for the Adjudicative Committee to consider, namely:

  • Ms Strawbridge admitted the breach and had a clear record.
  • She is an inexperienced Apprentice Rider.
  • It is accepted that her mount laid out under pressure.
  • Ms Strawbridge misjudged the position of the winning post.
  • Ms Strawbridge may have got caught out by the bend out of the straight, just after the winning post.
  • There was a head margin between second and third.

Mr Dooley submitted that the Penalty Guide establishes a starting point of a 4-week suspension for the loss of third place.  He said that under the circumstances of this breach, a penalty in the vicinity of 2 to 3-weeks suspension would be an appropriate penalty. He added that charges of this nature are rare.

Ms Strawbridge sought a deferment to any proposed suspension – after racing on 26 April 2025.

In terms of any proposed penalty, Mrs Sweeny submitted that under the circumstances, Ms Strawbridge should be given a reduction from the 4 week starting point.

Reasons for Penalty:

The available films clearly established that Ms Strawbridge eased her mount three strides prior to the finish. Had she not done so, it is evident that BONNIE GEM would have finished in second place, given the head margin. The difference in stake-money between second and third placings was $2,375.  This loss will be suffered by the connections of BONNIE GEM.  Punters who bet on BONNIE GEM also lost potential winnings from exotic bets.

The Adjudicative Committee agrees with the circumstances of the breach and the various mitigating factors highlighted by Mrs Fisher, Mr Dooley, and Mrs Sweeney.  These factors include Ms Strawbridge’s inexperience, as she is an Apprentice Rider who has had only nine race day riding opportunities. The racing manners of BONNIE GEM were assessed as a mitigating factor. It was apparent that Ms Strawbridge may have been distracted correcting her mount when it laid out and this could have contributed to her misjudging the position of the winning post.  On that basis, she is afforded a little over a week’s discount from the four-week suspension starting point .

Accordingly, after consideration of the above factors, a suspension one race day short of three weeks is imposed. This equates to eleven race meetings.

Conclusion:

Ms Strawbridge is granted a deferment and her Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of two weeks and 5 days, commencing after racing on 26 April 2025 and concluding after racing on 15 May 2025.

Decision Date: 23/04/2025

Publish Date: 24/04/2025