NZ Metro TC 9 April 2025 – R6 – David McCormick

INFORMATION A20438:

Following the running of Race 6, Hydroflow Trot, Open Driver, David McCormick, as the Driver of BRIANNA in the race, admitted a charge that he drove carelessly near the 600 metres by allowing his horse to strike the sulky wheel of KISS ME KATE (Bronson Munro), with the tyre deflating”.

Rule 869 provides:

(3)  No driver in any race shall drive:- 

    (b) carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed the available video replays of the incident with approximately 600 metres to run. He pointed out BRIANNA, driven by Mr McCormick, racing three places back on the markers in the six-horse field, following KISS ME KATE, driven by Mr Munro.

Mr Munro had reported to Stewards, post-race, that Mr McCormick’s runner had struck his sulky wheel on more than one occasion with approximately 600 metres to run. Mr Williams pointed these out on the video replays.

Mr McCormick said that he had his runner on one rein, trying to keep it off the wheel of KISS ME KATE, which was stopping at the same time. He had not simply run into the back of that horse, he said.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that Mr McCormick has had 14 drives this season and 45 last season. He has a clear record under the Careless Driving Rule. Stewards considered the breach to be in the low-range, he said, for which the Penalty Guide suggested a starting point of a $300 fine.

Mr McCormick told the Adjudicative Committee that he would prefer a suspension, if possible, to be deferred until after racing at NZ Metropolitan TC on 19 April 2025.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach was a low-range breach. Mr McCormick was caught behind a tiring runner and his own runner was providing a difficult drive at the same time.

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. Mr McCormick has indicated to the Stewards that he would prefer a suspension. Whilst the Penalty Guide makes no provision for a suspension for careless driving striking a wheel, it provides a starting point of a 2-days suspension for low-level careless driving. The breach can satisfactorily be dealt with by way of a suspension of 2 days, there being no aggravating or mitigating factors. The Adjudicative Committee finds that there were no consequences, since KISS ME KATE was clearly weakening at the time.

CONCLUSION:

Mr McCormick’s application for a deferment of suspension is granted.

The Respondent, Open Driver, David McCormick, is suspended from after the close of racing on 19 April 2025, up to and including 25 April 2025 – 2 days.