NZ Metro TC 22 October 2025 – R4 – Ben Hope

Following the running of Race 4, Now’s The Time to Breed with Woodlands Mobile Pace, Open Driver, Ben Hope, admitted a charge that, as the Driver of FRANCO ELVIS in the race, he “shifted inwards leaving the final bend forcing SWEET GUINESS (Gemma Thornley) to strike several track markers”.

Rule 869 provides as follows:

(7A)   Every driver who moves inwards shall ensure:

           (c)   that the movement does not cause any other driver , horse or sulky to contact any track marker or protrude inside the marker line.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Maja Szukiel-Deans, showed video replays of the relevant part of the race. She pointed out the two runners involved – FRANCO ELVIS, driven by Mr Hope, easing out from the trail onto the back of the leader, WOODLEA ROCKS (John Morrison), as the leader neared the home turn. SWEET GUINESS, driven by Ms Thornley, had been leading and was weakening along the markers. Upon straightening, Mr Hope shifted his runner inwards and, in doing so, tightened the weakening SWEET GUINESS, forcing it over several track markers, Ms Szukiel-Deans said.

Mr Hope said that it had “got a bit tight”. SWEET GUINESS was stopping and its chances were not affected, he submitted. He had been following WOODLEA ROCKS, which had come down as he was entitled to do, when he cleared SWEET GUINESS. He should have shown more care to give it room, but he was in tight quarters himself, he said.

The Adjudicative Committee noted that SWEET GUINESS finished in 8th place in the 9-horse field.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Ms Szukiel-Deans said that Mr Hope has had 177 drives in the current season and has a clear record under the Rule.

She referred the Adjudicative Committee to the Penalty Guide starting point of a $300 fine.

Mr Hope repeated that the breach had no effect on the chances of SWEET GUINESS. The breach was at the lower end, he submitted. A $300 fine would be “a little high”, he said.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (October 2024) suggests a starting point for penalty for a breach of the Rule of a $300 fine.

That is for a medium-level breach. The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as being low-level. The level of interference was low, Ms Thornley’s runner was tiring and there was no safety impact. In addition to those factors, Mr Hope has admitted the breach and has a clear record. A combination of all of those factors warrants a discount from the Penalty Guide starting point, and the Adjudicative Committee fixes that discount at $50.

CONCLUSION:

Open Driver, Ben Hope, is fined $250.