NZ Metro TC 12 May 2023 – R7 – Tim Williams

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 7, Hydroflow NZ Country Championship Final Handicap Pace (Listed Race), the Respondent, Open Driver Tim Williams, as the Driver of CYA ART in the race, admitted a charge that he drove carelessly leaving the final bend when shifting ground outwards checking outside runners.

The Respondent endorsed the Information “I do admit a breach of the Rule” and he confirmed he understood the Rule and the nature of the charge.

Rule 869 provides:

(3) (b)  No driver in any race shall drive carelessly.

EVIDENCE

Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, showed video replays of the relevant part of the race, approaching the home turn. He had Steward, Matt Sole, point out CYA ART, driven by the Respondent, racing three places back on the markers and being held up by the tiring ARTATAC. The affected runner was BET WEST (Logan Hollis), which had improved to the outside of Mr Williams and had HESASHORETHING (Jay Abernethy) to its outside and, outside that runner, and ahead of Mr Abernethy, was TOM MARTIN (Blair Orange). Mr Renault then showed that Mr Williams moved outwards and, in doing so, caused  interference to Mr Hollis and Mr Abernethy, whose runners became “tangled up” for several strides. Mr Williams did have advantage over Mr Hollis, who had an advantage over Mr Abernethy, but Mr Abernethy was unable to ease Mr Orange out, as Mr Orange was ahead of him, Mr Renault said. Both horses interfered with were weakening at the time, he said. It was a low-level breach, Mr Renault submitted.

The Respondent said that Mr Renault had described the incident well. He stressed that the interference was minimal and the outside runners’ chances had not been affected, even though he had placed them in restricted room.

DECISION:

The charge is admitted and is therefore deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that the Respondent has a clear record in relation to the Careless Driving Rule. Last season he had 680 drives and, in the current season to date, he has had 106 drives. Stewards believed that the breach was low-level, for which the Penalty Guide starting point in a Group or Listed Race is a 5-days suspension.

Mr Renault submitted that, having regard to the Respondent’s good record and admission of the breach, an appropriate penalty would be a suspension of 3 days.

The Respondent requested that the Adjudicative Committee considers a combined penalty of a suspension and a fine.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee noted the starting point in the RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) of a 5-days suspension.

The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as being low-range. The interference to the other two runners was minimal. The Respondent’s record is quite exceptional and he has admitted the breach. For a combination of those factors, the Adjudicative Committee gives the Respondent a discount of 2 days from the Penalty Guide starting point of 5 days.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Open Driver, Tim Williams, is suspended from after the end of racing on 19 May 2023, up to and including 25 May 2023 – 3 days.