NZ Metro TC 19 April 2025 – R11 – Ben Hope

Following the running of Race 11, Hector’s Premium NZ Gin “Racing Rewards” Handicap Trot, Open Driver, Ben Hope, denied a charge that he “allowed his horse, MAVIS JONES, to start from the incorrect barrier position”.

Rule 859 provide as follows:

(2)   No driver shall permit a horse to start and no horse shall start other than from its correct barrier position or in advance of its correct barrier position (either at a standing, mobile, or moving start), unless directed by the Starter.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, showed a video replay leading up to the start of the 2600 metres standing start race as the horses were turning in. He pointed out SILVER LININGS (Gavin Smith) correctly lining up in its barrier position, Unruly 1 on 10 metres. MAVIS JONES, driven by Mr Hope, was in its correct position, Unruly 2, Mr Renault said. However, Mr Hope then appeared to shift up the track looking for clearance outside VERTIGO (Lawrence McCormick), drawn 5 on 10 metres. There were six unruly horses in the field, Mr Renault said, and Mr Hope had allowed his horse to shift outwards too far and actually start outside WHO’S QUEEN, drawn barrier Unruly 3. Mr Hope had attempted to go up the track to ger some “clear air” and it was not the horse’s manners, Mr Renault submitted. He had effectively started from Unruly 3.

Mr Hope said that he had been following the circling runners around. He submitted that all of the runners had gone wide and, as they had begun to turn in, he had tried to straighten and get into position and his horse’s manners have taken over. The tapes had been released that quick that he had no chance to get into position.

DECISION:

The charge is found proved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Mr Hope’s runner, MAVIS JONES, had drawn to start from barrier position Unruly 2 on the 10 metres. He has clearly lined up and started from a position wider on the track than that. In fact, he has started outside of WHO’S QUEEN, which started from Unruly 3. It appeared that he made little effort to start from his correct position.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:

Mr Renault said that Mr Hope has had 77 drives this season and 269 in 2024. He did not believe that this is a charge that Mr Hope has previously faced.

The Penalty Guide starting point, Mr Renault said, is a $400 fine. He referred to a recent case of a breach of the same Rule in which a fine of $400 was imposed.

Mr Hope expressed the view that $400 was “a lot of money”.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee noted the suggesting starting point under the RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2025) of a $400 fine. It was an aggravating factor that two runners, WHO’S QUEEN and FORGIVENESS were declared late scratching’s by Stewards, for each being denied a fair start as a result of being hampered by Mr Hope’s runner, MAVIS JONES. That factor offsets the mitigating factor of Mr Hope’s clear record under the Rule. The Penalty Guide starting point of a $400 fine is the appropriate penalty for the breach.

CONCLUSION:

Open Driver, Ben Hope, is fined $400.