NZ Metro TC 27 July 2025 – R1 – Cheree Wigg
ID: RIB57272
Animal Name:
LOVEYOURMOTHER
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
27/07/2025
Race Club:
NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc
Race Location:
Addington Raceway - 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington, Christchurch, 8024
Race Number:
R1
Hearing Date:
27/07/2025
Hearing Location:
Addington Raceway, Christchurch
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Amateur Driver Cheree Wigg is suspended for 4 months
EVIDENCE:
Following the running of Race 1, an Information was presented by Stipendiary Steward Mr Matt Sole, alleging a breach of the Careless Driving Rule by Amateur Driver Miss Cheree Wigg.
Miss Wigg confirmed she had admitted the breach and stated she understood the Rule and the Charge.
Mr Sole had Stipendiary Steward Mr Shane Renault identify Miss Wigg LOVEYOURMOTHER, racing 5 places back on the inner. Mr Renault pointed to ARCHIE (W Frost), at approximately the 900m, on the outside of Miss Wigg.
Mr Sole said at this juncture, Miss Wigg has tried to force Mr Frost 3 wide, with little or no advantage over the outside horse. He said as Mr Frost was racing tightly, she has been unable to complete the manoeuvre and has ended up in “no man’s land” where she has galloped, contacting ARCHIE’S sulky and falling.
Miss Wigg said her horse was over racing, but admitted she has tried to create something that wasn’t attainable.
DECISION:
The Respondent having admitted the breach, the charge was deemed to be proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Sole stated Miss Wigg had a previous breach of the Careless Driving Rule on 19 March 2025 and as such, the starting point Guidelines show an 8-week suspension for a second breach causing a fall.
Miss Wigg asked the Adjudicative Committee to consider that her horse was the only horse to suffer the consequences, apart from the jolt to Mr Frost.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The Penalty Guidelines provide an 8-week suspension for a second breach of the Careless Driving Rule causing a fall.
The only relevant case to compare this breach to was at Addington, 17 December 2024, where ironically Mr Frost was charged with causing a fall. Mr Frost had a clear record, which demanded a 4-week suspension starting point; however, the consequences of that breach involved several horses, and a Driver badly injured, for which the Adjudicative Committee of the day imposed a 4-month suspension.
It is always a conundrum imposing Amateur Driver sanctions and, in this case, the starting point is 8-week suspension. The consequences were mostly confined to Miss Wigg, who was lucky; both herself and her horse escaped serious injury, but it was an ordinary piece of driving, which is out of character for an accomplished Driver such as Miss Wigg.
The Adjudicative Committee, in considering all factors, finds a 4-month suspension to be fair, reasonable and consistent, given the circumstances of a breach such as this.
CONCLUSION:
Amateur Driver Miss Cheree Wigg is suspended from the conclusion of racing today, up to and including racing on 27 November 2025.
Decision Date: 27/07/2025
Publish Date: 28/07/2025