NZ Metro TC 19 April 2025 – R1 – Ben Hope

Following the running of Race 1, TAB “Second or Third Bonus Cash Back” Mobile Pace, Open Driver, Ben Hope, as the Driver of JACK TAR in the race, admitted a charge that he “drove carelessly when striking the wheel of OCEAN OF TEARS (Gerard O’Reilly) in the run home, puncturing the sulky wheel of that horse”

Rule 869 provides:

(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 200 metres to run. He pointed out OCEAN OF TEARS (Gerard O’Reilly), racing outside the leader as the field turned into the home straight and JACK TAR, driven by Mr Hope, on its back in the one-one.

Mr Renault then showed Mr Hope, shortly after, attempt to push ELUSIVE DREAMS (Bob Butt) wider on the track to obtain a run. In doing so, Mr Renault showed, the near-front leg of JACK TAR made contact with the sulky wheel of OCEAN OF TEARS, the tyre of which punctured. Mr Hope was not quite clear of Mr O’Reilly and had made contact, Mr Renault said.

Mr Renault said that Mr O’Reilly’s runner was tiring and he did not believe that its chances had been affected. He said that there had been some “slight, marginal” outwards movement from Mr O’Reilly.

Mr Hope asked that the Adjudicative Committee to consider that Mr O’Reilly’s runner running out marginally had “not helped things”.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault said that Mr Hope has had 77 drives this season and 269 last season. He has a clear record under the Careless Driving Rule. The Penalty Guide suggests a starting point of a $300 fine, Mr Renault said. Given Mr Hope’s clear record, his admission of the breach and the possible contribution from Mr O’Reilly’s runner, Stewards were submitting that a fine of $250 would be an appropriate penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach was a low-range breach. Mr Hope has been caught behind a tiring runner, while attempting to ease out Mr Butt’s runner. The Adjudicative Committee accepts that Mr O’Reilly’s runner had shifted out slightly, which may have contributed to the incident.

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) provides a starting point for a first, low-level breach of a fine of $300, the consequence of the action going to penalty. The Adjudicative Committee is prepared to accept that there were no consequences to Mr O’Reilly’s runner, which was clearly weakening, or to any other runner. Having regard to that, and to Mr Hope’s admission of the breach and his clear record, a discount from the Penalty Guide starting point is warranted and the Adjudicative Committee fixes that discount at $50.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Open Driver, Ben Hope, is fined $250.