Banks Peninsula TC 21 April 2025 – R10 – MAJOR HIPSTER

Summary of Facts:

Following the running of Race 10 , the Applicant Stipendiary Steward Paul Williams, filed an Information pursuant to Rule 870(4)(d) instigating a protest alleging “that MAJOR HIPSTER broke at the start and failed to lose ground while in a break. “

The Respondent, Junior Driver Seth Hill was present and assisted at the hearing by Open Driver Matthew Williamson.

The Judge’s provisional placings were:

1st – No. 7    MAJOR HIPSTER

2nd – No. 1   QUICKER THAN QUICK

3rd – No. 9  THE COALMAN

4th –  No. 14  SUPERFUND

870 (4)(d) reads;
(4) Any horse which breaks from its gait in any race and:
(d) which fails to lose ground by the break;

870 (1) When any horse breaks from its gait in any race its driver shall immediately take all reasonable steps to return it to its proper gait and where clearance exists immediately take such horse clear of the field.
(2) The following shall be a breach of sub-rule (1) hereof:
(c) failure to lose ground by the break.
(d) which fails to lose ground by the break; may (in addition to any penalty that may be imposed pursuant to Rule 1003 hereof) subject to the provisions of the Breaking Horse Regulations made by the Board, be placed by the Stipendiary Steward immediately after any other horse in respect of which any advantage may have been gained.

Submissions for Decision:

Using available race films, Stipendiary Steward Paul Williams with the assistance of Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, identified MAJOR HIPSTER driven by Mr Hill, drawn barrier 7 at the standing start. Mr Renault demonstrated on the films that MAJOR HIPSTER went into a break for several strides, after the start was made. He pointed out that MAJOR HIPSTER finished up in front after the break, staying in that position with the horse eventually winning the event.

The reason for the Protest, he said, was that it appeared that MAJOR HIPSTER had not lost ground, but may have in fact gained ground, when in a break over the early stages and could have gained an advantage over the field by this incident.

Mr Williamson showed the films and stated that MAJOR HIPSTER had initially paced a couple of strides before breaking and was going way faster than other runners as the start was made.  He stated that MAJOR HIPSTER had good momentum leading up to the start, went rough and then broke for 4-5 strides, but was eased and settled really quickly. He said this would not have had any bearing on the way the race progressed and finished, the horse winning easily by a margin of 2.7 lengths.

Mr Hill stated that when MAJOR HIPSTER broke, he took a firm hold of the horse to ease him and get him back into a pace, which he did quickly. He added that to grab up the horse more fiercely, may have created more issues and created a worst situation.

Reasons For Decision:

After hearing submissions and reviewing the race films, it was clearly evident to the Adjudicative Committee that MAJOR HIPSTER broke as the start was made and was not in its correct gait for 4-5 strides. The Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that MAJOR HIPSTER was, in the lead up to the start, accelerating forward quickly and was pacing prior to breaking. At the break, it was also evident that Mr Hill applied firm pressure to the reins, to ease MAJOR HIPSTER, in order to get the horse back into its correct gait. Although it appeared as though the horse had not lost ground when in the break, it was in fact under a hold in an attempt to ease. Taking all factors into consideration, including the fact that the horse led for the entire race and won the race with ease by 2.7 lengths, the Adjudicative Committee determined that MAJOR HIPSTER did not gain an advantage with this incident and accordingly, the protest was dismissed.

Decision:

The protest was dismissed, with the Judge’s placings standing as above.