NZ Metro TC 18 September 2026 – R9 (heard 20 September 2026 at Orari Racecourse) – Seth Hill

Following the running of Race 9, Lamb & Hayward Mobile Pace, Junior Driver, Seth Hill, admitted a breach of the Whip Rules in that, as the Driver of CATH in the race, “he used his whip in a continuous manner in the run home”.

The hearing of the charge was adjourned on racenight and took place at the meeting of Banks Peninsula TC held at Orari Racecourse on 20 September.

Mr Hill, an experienced Junior Driver, waived the assistance of a Senior Driver at the hearing.

Rule 869 provides as follows:

(2)  No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.

The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:

3.3     A driver shall not use a whip in an unapproved manner.

3.4     For the purposes of clause 3.3 a driver shall be deemed to have used the whip in an unapproved manner in the following circumstances which are not exclusive:

3.4.2  If the whip is applied excessively, continuously, or without allowing the horse time to respond.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, showed a video replay of the final 200-300 metres of the race. Mr Renault pointed out CATH, driven by Mr Hill, racing 3-wide, and then 4-wide, as the field turned into the final straight. He then showed that Mr Hill commenced using his whip, and continued to use it in a continuous manner from that point to just short of the finishing line. There was no concern over the whip action or the force, Mr Renault said, but the concern was that the whip use was continuous for that distance, with only one brief pause.

Mr Hill agreed that he did not break up his whip use enough. He did break it up nearing the finish, he said, but accepted that he had used his whip continuously for some 200 metres. They were not “big hits”, but the spaces between using his whip were not big enough, he said.

The Adjudicative Committee noted that CATH finished in 2nd placing in the race, beaten by a neck.

DECISION:

The charge, having been admitted, was found proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault told the hearing that Mr Hill has had 164 drives this season (253 in 2025) and has a clear record. He had received a recent warning on 24 July last, for using his whip in a continuous manner.  The Penalty Guide starting point for a low-level, first breach is a $300 fine or a 2-days suspension, and that would be the Stewards’ submission, Mr Renault said. This breach was low-level, he said.

Mr Hill confirmed that he would prefer a fine to a suspension on this occasion.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

“Continuous use” of the whip means a Driver is striking the horse using a series of usually rapid, repetitive strikes with no visible pause or break, or without varying the action.

The Adjudicative Committee was comfortably satisfied that Mr Hill’s whip use for some 200 metres of the run home, with only a single brief pause, on this occasion, was “continuous” and constituted a breach of the Rule.

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) provides a starting point for a low-level, first breach, of a $300 fine or a 2-days suspension.

The Adjudicative Committee agrees that the breach was low-level, having regard to the lack of force used.

In relation to Mr Hill’s record, the Adjudicative Committee noted that his most recent breach of the Whip Rules was in May 2025. The decision of the Adjudicative Committee following that hearing, recorded that “Mr Hill has been, and is currently, working with Senior Drivers on his whip use to rectify his issues”. His record since that time, as far as breaches of the Whip Rules are concerned, has been excellent and he deserves credit for that.

Having regard to Mr Hill’s admission of the breach, his very good record and the low-level nature of the breach, the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that a fine is the appropriate penalty, and that the fine should be one of $250. There are no aggravating factors.

CONCLUSION:

Junior Driver, Seth Hill, is fined the sum of $250.