Non Raceday Inquiry – Written Decision dated 18 September 2026 – Andrea Hartley

BACKGROUND

This was held as a Non Raceday Inquiry at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday 17 September. An authority to charge signed by the CE of the RIB Dr E Forbes was presented.

Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr S Mulcay presented an Information alleging that Ms A Hartley entered and started an ineligible horse in a race when such horse had not been in the hands of, direct charge of and care of a Licensed Trainer for at least four weeks prior to the date for the race.

In this case, Ms Hartley had entered and raced SLIABH RUA in Heat 1 at a Trial at Cambridge Raceway on 29 August 2026, in which it ran second. This occurred prior to Ms Hartley being granted a licence to train from HRNZ, which was awaiting a stable lease agreement with Waikato/BOP Harness Inc., an alleged breach of Rule 403(3) of the HRNZ Rules of Racing.

The relevant Rules in this case are:-

Rule 403(2)(h) which states

The horses that shall be subject to the disabilities of contained in sub-rule (1) of this Rule are the following:-

(h) any horse which has not been in the hand of, direct charge of and care of a licensed trainer for at least four weeks prior to the date for fixing withdrawals in the race.

Rule 403(3) states

No person shall enter for or start in a race, any horse to which this Rule applies.

Mr Mulcay also stated that in addition to the charge faced by Ms Hartley, SLIABH RUA should be disqualified from the trial as provided for under Rule 403(4) which states:

In addition to any penalty which may be imposed pursuant to Rule 1003 hereof, every horse which is entered for or started in any race in breach of this Rule (Rule 403) shall be scratched or disqualified for that race.

Ms Hartley confirmed that she understood the Rule admitted the charge and accepted the disqualification.

DECISION

As the charge was admitted, the Adjudicative Committee found it proven.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS

Mr Mulcay noted that Ms Hartley had been co-operative and had admitted the charge in the first instant and recommended in this case, the matter could be dealt with by way of a fine. He advised that while there were no recent breaches of this Rule, a comparison the Steward’s considered relevant, was a charge against Mr D McGowan for driving in a race without a current medical certificate. The fine in that case was $300.

Ms Hartley had no comment to make on the Steward’s submissions.

DECISION ON PENALTY

The Adjudicative Committee considered the submissions made to them and accepted that Mr McGowan’s breach was of a broadly similar nature (ie not having completed the administrative/timing requirements for a Licence before entering a race). It was therefore determined that a fine of $300 was an appropriate penalty.

In addition, as provided for under Rule 403(4), the Adjudicative Committee declared SLIABH RUA be disqualified from Heat 1 of the trial on 29 August 2026.

CONCLUSION

Ms Hartley is fined $300.

SLIABH RUA is disqualified from Heat 1 of the trial on 29 August 2026.