Invercargill HRC 24 November 2021 – R5 – TRISTAN LARSEN

SUMMARY OF FACTS:
Following the running of Race 5, Contact Peter Kett 03 2156206 Handicap Trot, Stipendiary Steward Mr V Munro presented information A16010 alleging a breach of rule 869(3)(B) by Junior Driver, Mr T Larsen.

Mr Larsen admitted the breach and confirmed he understood the Rule.

Mr Larsen was supported by Mr C Ferguson (Senior Driver) at the hearing.

Rule 869(3)(b) reads as follows:
(3) No horseman in any race shall drive:-
(b) Carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Mr Munro asked Stipendiary Steward, Miss R Haley to identify the horses involved in the incident by using the various video clips.

Miss Haley highlighted TWEEDLEDEE (S Ottley) moving forwards into the three wide line about the 700-metre mark. BILL (B Norman) was racing in the two wide line and has moved inwards, and as ALL ABOUT THE MOMENT followed TWEEDLEDEE, he has shifted inwards as PICKWETTS RIDGE (R McIllwrick) has pushed up, and as a result PICKETTS RIDGE has been checked and lost its chance.

Mr Larsen agreed with the Stipendiary Steward’s version of the events

Mr Ferguson said that the racing line was untidy, and Mr Larsen has made an error of judgement.

REASON FOR DECISION:
Mr Larsen having admitted the breach, the charge was deemed proved.

SUBMISSION FOR PENALTY:

Mr Munro stated that Mr Larsen was a reasonably busy Junior Driver averaging 3 drives per race day in recent times. Mr Munro believed the range of carelessness in this instance was at the mid to lower end.

Mr Larsen has had 152 drives in the extended season this year and 41 drives the previous season. Mr Munro submitted a suspension of 3 days may be appropriate in this instance which is within the current Penalty Guidelines.

Mr Larsen had no submissions on penalty. Mr Ferguson suggested that the level of carelessness was low end.

REASON FOR PENALTY:

Mr Larsen has moved inwards when not sufficiently clear and as a result PICKETTS RIDGE has been checked and broken and his chances extinguished.

He had admitted the breach.

An aggravating factor in fixing penalty has been PICKETTS RIDGE chances have been extinguished. A three-day suspension was deemed appropriate

CONCLUSION:

Mr Larsen’s Licence to drive has been suspended from the close of racing on 24 November 2021 up to including 9^th December 2021.

The days encompassed in this suspension are:
Forbury Park      3 December
Motukarara        5 December
Winton                 9 December