Methven TC 13 April 2025 – R12 – Robbie Close

Following the running of Race 12, Carrfield Grain & Seed (Heat 1) Mobile Pace, Open Driver, Robbie Close, as the Driver of LOGAN ROCK in the race, admitted a charge that he “drove carelessly early in the run home by anticipating a run between COURAGE REACTOR (Wilson House) and HEY TONIGHT (John Dunn), resulting in his own horse being checked”.

Rule 869 provides:

(3)  No driver in any race shall drive:- 

    (b) carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward Paul Williams, had Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, show the available video replays of the incident, which occurred just after entering the home straight. LOGAN ROCK, driven by Mr Close, had been racing five-places back on the markers following HEY TONIGHT, driven by Mr Dunn. COURAGE REACTOR, driven by Mr House, was three-places back on the markers ahead of Mr Dunn.

Mr Renault then showed Mr Dunn ease off the makers to improve to the outside of Mr House and Mr Close attempted a run between those two runners. At that stage, Mr House came out for a run, making contact with the front legs of LOGAN ROCK. Mr Renault submitted that, at no stage, was there a run available for Mr Close. The horse “went rough” as a result of the contact, Mr Renault said and, the Adjudicative Committee observed, galloped for several strides and lost ground.

Mr Close said that his horse was racing “fiercely”. He had anticipated Mr Dunn going wider on the track, but this did not eventuate.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that Mr Close is a very busy Driver. He has had 227 drives this season and 606 last season. On 30 March 2025 at Wyndham HRC, he was fined $350 for a low-to-medium level breach of the Careless Driving Rule. This breach is, therefore, a second breach. The breach is low-level and the Penalty Guide suggests a starting point of a 3-days suspension for a low-level, second breach and that is an appropriate penalty, Mr Williams submitted.

Mr Close has a notified drive at the meeting at NZ Metropolitan TC on 15 April 2025.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach is a low-level breach. Mr Close has been looking for a run and has anticipated a run becoming available between Mr House and Mr Dunn, which run did not eventuate and Mr Close has caused his own runner to be checked and break.

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) provides a starting point for a second, low-level breach of 3-days suspension. That is the appropriate penalty, there being no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors.

CONCLUSION:

Mr Close has a notified drive at the meeting of NZ Metropolitan TC on 15 April and, accordingly, commencement of the term of suspension is deferred until after that meeting.

Open Driver Robbie Close, is suspended from after the close of racing on 15 April 2025, up to and including 21 April 2025 – 3 days. The meetings intended to be encompassed by the period of suspension are Winton HRC on 17 April, NZ Metropolitan TC on 19 April and Banks Peninsula TC on 21 April 2025.