Geraldine TC 6 December 2025 – R9 – Murray Howard

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 9, Open Driver, Murray Howard, admitted a breach of Rule 869(4)(6)(b)(c) “in that, as the Driver of JAY R TOLKIEN in the race, he shifted outwards near the 1700m forcing outside runners wider on the track.”

Rule 869 provides as follows:

(4) No driver shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse and/or any other horse or its progress.

(6) Subject to sub-rule (4) hereof:-

(b) a horse during any race shall not be forced to race wider on the track;

(c) a horse during a race shall not move ground outwards once the nose of the wider runner coming forward is in line with or past its sulky wheel and until the wider runner going forward is fully past.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, showed available video replays of the incident, which occurred with approximately 1700 metres to run. He pointed out JAY R TOLKIEN, driven by the Respondent, racing mid field and 2 off the pylons approaching the 1700m with CARLIN, driven by Sheree Tomlinson, QUICKER THAN QUICK, driven by Blair Orange and STYLISH LUSTRE, driven by Gerard O’Reilly racing to the outside of Mr Howard.  Mr Renault demonstrated on the replays that Mr Howard shifted out when not entailed to do so and as a result, CARLIN, QUICKER THAN QUICK and STYLISH LUSTRE were all forced to race wider on the track, with all these runners losing their rightful positions over this early stage of the race.

Mr Howard elected to make no submissions in regard to the incident.

DECISION:

As Mr Howard has admitted the breach, the charge is found proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault said that the Respondent drives infrequently and has had 4 drives in the current season, with his record under the Rule clear. He submitted that there were aggravating factors to consider, being the effect on 3 runners, who lost their position as a result of Mr Howard’s offence.

Mr Renault stated that the Penalty Guide provided a $200 fine as a first offence under this Rule. He said, however, that Mr Howard has made application for penalty to be a suspension on this occasion. Mr Renault submitted that the starting point for a suspension in this case, should be a 2 day suspension.

Mr Howard elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty, apart from confirming that he would prefer a suspension as penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide provides a starting point for penalty for an initial breach, of a fine of $200. Mr Howard made submissions that he would prefer a suspension, with the Stewards not rejecting this request.

The Adjudicative Committee determined that a suspension would be an appropriate penalty in this case, with the starting point being a 2 day suspension.

There were aggravating factors to consider, being the effects to 3 runners in the event who all were affected by Mr Howard’s actions, which warranted an uplift in penalty. This uplift was set at 1 day.

Therefore, the Adjudicative Committee determined that a 3 day suspension was an appropriate penalty.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent Mr Howard, is suspended from the conclusion of racing today, up to and including 18 December 2025.

Meeting encompassed in this period are Addington – 12 December, Rangiora – 14 December and Methven – 18 December 2025.