Invercargill HRC 12 June 2025 – R8 – Daniel Anderson

BACKGROUND

Mr Munro alleged that Junior Driver Daniel Anderson (ABULL) drove carelessly in Race 8 near the 80 metre mark when shifting ground inwards, abruptly checking an inside runner (RIGHTAZZ).

Rule 869(3)(b) provides:

No driver in any race shall drive carelessly.

Mr Anderson confirmed to the Adjudicative Committee his understanding of the Rule and the nature of this charge, along with his admission of the breach. He was assisted at the hearing by Open Driver Craig Ferguson.

EVIDENCE

Mr Sole used the available race videos to identify Mr Anderson, driving ABULL, blocked for a run behind CARBON (Nikita Burton) at the top of the home straight. The Respondent tracked Ms Burton to the 100 metre mark, at which point he was hemmed in by MAGNETIC BECKERS (Hayden Douglas) to his outside, and RIGHTAZZ (Brad Williamson) to his inside.

The videos showed ABULL travelling strongly and appearing to have more to offer. Approaching the 80 metre mark, Mr Anderson directed his horse inwards and attempted to pierce through between CARBON and RIGHTAZZ. The move was abrupt and caused RIGHTAZZ to be checked, Mr Sole said. Stewards submitted that Mr Williamson did not have enough time to react.

In response to a question from the Adjudicative Committee, Mr Munro noted that ABULL broke after the incident but not, in his view, because of it.

“It was probably the speed that he was going. I don’t believe the incident caused that,” Mr Munro said.

Mr Ferguson, on behalf of Mr Anderson, said the video was clear. Mr Anderson had not moved in slowly enough and should have taken a little more time to ease Mr Williamson down the track and get through the gap.

Mr Anderson said he was aware of Mr Williamson to his inside. He believed RIGHTAZZ was weakening and thought he could “poke through” and secure a clear run.

ABULL finished in 6th place, 5.1 lengths from the winner. RIGHTAZZ finished 9th, beaten 7.2 lengths.

DECISION

As Mr Anderson has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS

Stewards produced the Respondent’s record. Mr Anderson has had 50 drives this season and 109 drives last season. His lifetime drives stood at 324.

Mr Anderson had a previous breach of the Careless Driving Rule at Winton HRC on 8 May 2025 (fined $250 for careless driving, hitting a wheel).

Stewards assessed this second breach as being mid-level, Mr Munro said. He read to the hearing the mid-level definition for Careless Driving, where the breach causes interference which impacts on one’s own or another horse’s chances.

The starting point in the Racing Integrity Board’s Harness Racing Penalty Guide for a second Careless Driving Breach held to be mid-level, was a 5-day suspension. Stewards believed that this was too high, in the circumstances. Mr Munro submitted that Mr Anderson’s prompt admission, remorse, and Junior Driver status should be taken into account when setting the penalty.

The Adjudicative Committee asked Stewards to speak, with reference to this case, to the distinction between the definitions for mid-level and high-level Careless Driving, given that the Respondent’s horse had broken stride in the home straight after the interference. Mr Munro said that in committing the breach, Mr Anderson had affected his own chances, not extinguished them.

Mr Ferguson said he believed this was a low-level breach. He said Mr Williamson’s horse was tiring before being checked and wasn’t going to run in the money. He pointed out that RIGHTAZZ did not break when checked. Mr Ferguson maintained the horse’s chances had not been adversely affected.

ABULL did break after the incident, but Mr Ferguson did not believe this happened as a result of contacting RIGHTAZZ. He said ABULL had a habit of breaking in races, something he had previously experienced when driving the horse. He argued that Mr Anderson’s horse should have been able to shift ground, withstand the contact with RIGHTAZZ, and stay in the correct gait.

Mr Anderson agreed with the penalty submission put forward by Mr Ferguson, and said he wished to begin any period of suspension immediately.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

The RIB Penalty Guide defines a mid-level breach of the Careless Driving Rule as one in which “the breach causes interference which impacts on own or another horse’s chances.”

A high-level breach of the Careless Driving Rule requires “interference which results in own or another horse losing all chance.”

In carefully weighing these definitions against the submissions and the video evidence, the Adjudicative Committee finds this to be a mid-level breach. The Respondent’s horse, ABULL, keeps pacing for some 3 or 4 strides after making contact with RIGHTAZZ, and then breaks stride. Mr Ferguson submits – and Stewards do not dispute – that ABULL has previously broken free of interference late in a race.

The Adjudicative Committee finds that Mr Anderson has driven carelessly and, in so doing, has impacted his own horse’s chances but not extinguished them, and further, that RIGHTAZZ was tiring before the interference occurred, and would not have finished in a dividend-bearing position.

The starting point in the Penalty Guide for a second Careless Driving breach found to be mid-level is a 5-day suspension. The Adjudicative Committee adopts this as the starting point and, taking into account Mr Anderson’s Junior Driver status and admission of the breach, affords him a 1-day reduction in the period of suspension.

CONCLUSION

Junior Driver Daniel Anderson is suspended for four days, from the conclusion of racing on 12 June 2025, up to and including 17 July 2025. The meetings affected by the period of suspension are: Forbury Park TC (19 June), Winton HRC (26 June), Invercargill HRC (6 July) and Winton HRC (17 July).