NZ Metro TC 21 August 2026 – R11 (heard 24 August 2026 at Winton) – Hayden Douglas

BACKGROUND

Following the running of Race 11 at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Meeting 0n 21 August 2026, Mr Wallis alleged under Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations that Junior Driver Hayden Douglas had used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home.

Rule 869 provides that:

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

The Whip and Rein Regulations, in part, provide:

3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.

3.2 For the purposes of clause 3.1, “wrist only flicking motion” means:

3.2.1 Ensuring no force is generated by the use of the elbow or shoulder when applying the whip.

The hearing of the Information was opened and adjourned on the racenight and heard at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on 24 August 2026.

At the start of the hearing, Mr Douglas waived his right as a Junior Driver to call on support from a Senior Licenceholder. He confirmed his admission of the breach and his understanding of the relevant Rule and Regulations.

EVIDENCE

Mr Wallis invited his colleague, Mr Munro, to use the available race videos to demonstrate the alleged breach. Stewards relied on the home turn rear video angle, along with the primary side-on angle, to highlight the alleged breach as the Respondent uses the whip with his left hand.

Mr Douglas was shown leading into the home straight with COMMANDER BEN and using his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion 6 times from about the 150 metre mark, before returning to a compliant style of whip use from about the 50m mark. Mr Douglas therefore used his whip in breach of the Rule over the course of some 100m, Mr Wallis said.

Mr Douglas agreed that 6 of his whip strikes were in breach of the Rule and Regulations, in that he used his whip 6 times in the run home over a distance of some 100m with more than a wrist flicking motion.

He submitted that his elbow was already bent because of the position in which he held the reins. “As much as my arm’s bent when it’s coming in and out, it’s not actually reaching forward using much arm action. That elbow bend stays quite consistent throughout the action,” Mr Douglas said.

The Respondent nonetheless agreed his whip action on this occasion was too extravagant.

DECISION

As Mr Douglas has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS

Stewards produced the Respondent’s record, which reflected that Mr Douglas was a very busy Junior Driver. He had had 249 drives this season and 282 drives last season.

Mr Douglas’ record under the Rule was clear, although he had been warned about his whip use on 25 June 2026.

Mr Wallis submitted this was a low to mid-level breach, and referred to the starting point of a $300 fine or 2-day suspension for a low level first breach in the Racing Integrity Board’s Harness Racing Penalty Guide. Stewards believed this was an appropriate level of penalty, Mr Wallis said.

Mr Douglas expressed a preference for a fine rather than a suspension, a preference he maintained when the Adjudicative Committee advised him that the Penalty Guide suggested a starting point of a $500 fine or 2-day suspension for a first breach found to be mid-level.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

The Respondent uses his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion from approximately the 150m mark to the 50m mark. He returns to a compliant style of whip use thereafter. By definition, as referenced in the Penalty Guide, this is a mid-level breach of the Whip Rule and the attendant Whip and Rein Regulations:

The driver inadvertently uses the old whipping style for approximately 50m or more before returning to a compliant style.

The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a $500 fine or 2-day suspension for a first breach found to be mid-level.

The Adjudicative Committee takes into account Mr Douglas’ admission of the breach and his status as a Junior Driver, which is offset against his relative experience, the excessive degree of his whip action on this occasion, and the distance over which the unacceptable whip use occurred. In balancing these factors, a fine in keeping with the Penalty Guide starting point is appropriate.

CONCLUSION

Junior Driver Hayden Douglas is fined $500.