Oamaru HRC 5 March 2025 – R6 – Mia Holbrough

Mr McIntyre alleged that Junior Driver Ms Holbrough (AUNTIE DEB) was in breach of r 869(4) in that she allowed her horse to drift into the passing lane denying a trailing runner access to the passing lane.

Rule 869(4) states: “No driver shall during any race do anything which interferes or is likely to interfere with his own horse and/or any other horse or its progress.”

Mr Williams demonstrated on the videos that AUNTIE DEB was the leading horse into the home straight and it had drifted into and remained in the passing lane. The horse was laying in and causing the Respondent some difficulty. She struck 3 marker pegs.

Mr McIntyre said Ms Holbrough’s obligation under the Rules was to keep her horse out of the passing lane. Rather than take the necessary corrective action, she had continued to urge her horse forward and had let the horse’s head go and pulled the gear. She activated the removable deafeners and the horse shifted into the passing lane. She continued to race in the passing lane throughout the run home. Mr House (MY FRIEND LOUIE) was driving a favoured runner and was trailing Ms Holbrough. He was entitled to take the passing lane and was held up for a run the length of the home straight.

Ms Holbrough said she was trying to get the best possible finishing position for her horse, and she had kept driving it out. She acknowledged she was aware she was in the passing lane and that Mr House was yelling to her. She said she was trying to steer the horse, but it was locked on one rein. She had pulled the gear without thinking.

Mr May said Ms Holbrough had pulled the gear and the horse had run in. She had hit three markers, and the horse was causing difficulties for her prior to the passing lane.

Decision

As Ms Holbrough has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

Submissions as to Penalty

Mr McIntyre produced the Respondent’s record, which showed that Ms Holbrough has had 42 drives this season. She has had 157 lifetime drives. Her record is clear under this particular Rule. Mr McIntyre submitted the breach was high-end. Mr House, who was driving a horse favoured in the betting, had been unable to use the passing lane the length of the home straight.

Mr May said Ms Holbrough was doing her best in the circumstances. Ms Holbrough said the fact that the horse was laying in, was the only reason she was in the passing lane. She requested her suspension start after racing on the West Coast.

Reasons for Penalty

The breach is high end. The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a 3-day suspension for a first such breach. Ms Holbrough has continued to urge her horse the whole way up the straight, despite knowing she was in the passing lane and was denying Mr House a run. She compounded her actions by activating gear. Balancing these aggravating factors with the fact that the horse was causing her difficulty, her status as a Junior Driver, and her admission of the breach, a penalty at the starting point is appropriate.

Conclusion

Ms Holbrough’s Driver’s Licence is suspended from the conclusion of racing on 9 March, up to and including 15 March 2025. This is 3 days.