Methven TC 13 April 2025 – R4 – Crystal Hackett

Following the running of Race 4, Shearmac Aluminium Ltd (Invited Drivers) Mobile Pace, Junior Driver, Crystal Joyce Hackett, as the Driver of KOWHAI NUGGET in the race, admitted a charge that she “drove carelessly near the 100 metres by shifting ground outwards, when insufficiently clear of ANYTIME AT ALL (John Dunn), which was checked”.

Ms Hackett was assisted at the hearing by Open Driver, Robbie Close.

Rule 869 provides:

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

    (b) carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed the available video replays of the incident, with approximately 100 metres to run in the race. He pointed out KOWHAI NUGGET, driven by Ms Hackett, which had been one of the rear runners turning for home, finishing fast and looking for racing room approaching the 100 metres, and improving to the inside of ANYTIME AT ALL and onto the back of the leader, LOUIS.

Mr Williams showed that Ms Hackett then shifted outwards and, in doing so, was not sufficiently clear of ANYTIME AT ALL and made contact with the near front leg of that runner, which broke.

Ms Hackett said that she had been clear when she shifted out and had then crossed her reins. Her horse had “marginally” shifted out when she loosened the rein and made contact with the leg of ANYTIME AT ALL, she said.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that Ms Hackett has had 148 drives this season and 302 last season. On 21 March 2025 at Auckland, she was fined $450 for a 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.

Ms Hackett has notified drives at the meeting at Cambridge on 15 April. After that, she told the Adjudicative Committee, she had planned to attend and drive at the meeting of Banks Peninsula TC on 21 April which date, she said, should be included in any period of suspension. She was questioned at length concerning those plans before the Stewards and the Adjudicative Committee acquiesced.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

Ms Hackett has been looking for a run and has eased her runner out wider to improve and, in doing so, has contacted the leg of Mr Dunn’s runner, which broke.

The breach was low-level. It was a slight misjudgment on Ms Hackett’s part and it appeared that Mr Dunn’s runner’s chances were not affected, as it was clearly weakening at the time.

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.

CONCLUSION:

Ms Hackett has notified drives at the meeting of Bay of Plenty Harness Inc. on 15 April and, accordingly, commencement of the term of suspension is deferred until after that meeting.

The Respondent, Junior Driver, Crystal Hackett, is suspended from after the close of racing on 15 April 2025, up to and including 22 April 2025 – 3 days.

It is recorded that the meeting of Banks Peninsula TC on 21 April 2025, has been included in the period of suspension.