NZ Metro TC 11 November 2025 – R7 – Kimberly Butt

Following the running of Race 7, Garrards Horse & Hound Handicap Trot, Open Driver, Kimberly Butt, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of EUROSTYLE in the race, she “shifted outwards near the 1800 metres forcing CONFESSIONAL (Paul Nairn) wider on the track”, a breach of the Pushout Rule.

Rule 869 provides that:

(4)  No driver shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse and/or any other horse or its progress.

(6)  Subject to sub-rule (4) hereof:

(a)  drivers are permitted to move ground inwards or outwards at any stage of the race to   improve their racing position;

(b)  a horse making a forward movement during any race shall not be forced to race wider on the track;

(c)  a horse during a race shall not move ground outwards once the nose of the wider runner coming forward is in line with or past its sulky wheel and until the wider runner going forward is fully past.

EVIDENCE:

Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, showed the available video replays of the incident, with approximately 1800 metres to run. He pointed out EUROSTYLE, driven by Ms Butt, racing in second-to-last position in the one-out line, being followed by CONFESSIONAL, driven by Mr Nairn. Mr McIntyre then showed Ms Butt shift her runner out and force CONFESSIONAL, which had improved to her outside and got to her wheel, to momentarily race four-wide, in breach of the Pushout Rule. Mr Nairn was able to ease and get onto the back of Ms Butt, Mr McIntyre said.

Ms Butt did not wish to comment.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:

Mr McIntyre said that Ms Butt has had 230 drives and has no breaches of the Rule against her record.

The breach was very low-level, he said, and a fine of $200 in terms of the Penalty Guide would be an appropriate penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide provides a starting point for penalty for a breach of the Pushout Rule of a $200 fine.

This breach was clearly a low-level one, Ms Butt has admitted it and has a clear record. Notwithstanding those factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed a fine of $200, as per the Penalty Guide, to be the appropriate penalty.

CONCLUSION:

Open Driver, Kimberly Butt, is fined the sum of $200.