NZ Metro TC 10 October 2025 – R1 (heard at Motukarara on 12 October 2025) – Olivia Thornley

Following the running of Race 1, Ricoh Trot, Licensed Open Driver, Olivia Thornley, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of HOLLY HIGHLANDER in the race, she “drove carelessly rounding the final bend by shifting ground inwards when insufficiently clear of AMENDMENT (Bob Butt), which made contact with the sulky wheel of HOLLY HIGHLANDER, with the tyre being punctured”.

The Information was filed on race night and adjourned. It was heard at the meeting of Akaroa TC at Motukarara on 12 October 2025. Ms Thornley had signed the Information “I do admit a breach of the rule” and she confirmed this at the hearing.

Rule 869 provides as follows:

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

      (b) carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, showed the available video replays of the incident with approximately 500 metres to run. He pointed out HOLLY HIGHLANDER, driven by Ms Thornley, being forced to race 4-wide racing down the back straight when an inside runner shifted outwards. AMENDMENT, driven by Mr Butt, was racing directly behind. He then showed Mr Butt take a gap to the inside of Ms Thornley and, as he did so, Ms Thornley shifted her runner inwards, when not clear of Mr Butt, tightening Mr Butt’s runner and making contact with the leg of Mr Butt’s runner. HOLLY HIGHLANDER sustained a punctured sulky tyre in the incident, Mr Renault said.

Ms Thornley said that the incident was “very marginal”.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault said that Ms Thornley has had 178 drives this season and has a clear record under the Careless Driving Rule.

Stewards believed that the breach, on this occasion, was low-level. HOLLY HIGHLANDER had sustained a punctured tyre, but Stewards did not believe that this had affected the horse’s performance. The Penalty Guide suggests, for a first, low-level breach, a suspension of 2 days or a $300 fine, Mr Renault said. Stewards’ submission was for a fine of $300.

Ms Thornley said that her preference was for a fine rather than a suspension.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) provides a starting point for penalty for a first, low-level careless driving breach of a 2-days suspension or a $300 fine. Ms Thornley has asked for a fine.

There are no aggravating factors requiring the Adjudicative Committee to consider an uplift from that starting point. Mitigating factors are Ms Thornley’s admission of the breach and her good record, for which the Adjudicative Committee is able to give a discount of $50 from the starting point.

CONCLUSION:

Licensed Open Driver, Olivia Thornley, is fined the sum of $250.