Otago RC 1 June 2025 – R5 (request for a ruling) – BALZANO

Miss Haley requested a Ruling under r 647(1) with respect to Mr Callaway (BALZANO) failing to weigh in when in a stakes bearing place (4th) as required following Race 5.

Mr S Muniandy, who had care of BALZANO on the day, represented the connections of that horse.

Miss Haley stated that after the race, the Stewards believed that Mr Callaway, the Rider of the 4th placed horse BALZANO, had not weighed in. This was confirmed by the Clerk of the Scales, Mrs Miles. Miss Haley then went into the Jockeys’ Room and saw that Mr Callaway was there. He no longer had the saddle in his hands and said to her he thought he had weighed in.

Miss Haley stated she had stood beside the Clerk of the Scales and never saw Mr Callaway weigh in. Mrs Miles gave evidence confirming that Mr Callaway had not weighed in.

Mr Muniandy said he was in the birdcage and saw Mr Callaway walk off the track and stand in line to weigh in. However, he never saw him stand on the scales.

Mr Callaway stated that he thought he had weighed in. He had stood in line. It was his first ride of the day and he had been wasting hard to get down to the required riding weight. He had lost 4kg and then another 500g on the day of the meeting. He was completely spent by the end of the race and this must have affected his thinking and led to his going into the Jockeys’ Room without standing on the scales. He repeated he only became aware of his mistake when Miss Haley spoke to him. He now accepted he must have made a mistake.

Reason for Ruling

Rule 647(1) states:

All Riders in a Race shall weigh-in, unless excused from doing so by a Stipendiary Steward. A horse whose Rider does not weigh in shall, in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed, be disqualified from the Race, unless the Stipendiary Stewards are satisfied that the:

(a) Rider’s failure to weigh-in, in accordance with this Rule, was justified by extraordinary circumstances, including if the Stipendiary Stewards are satisfied that, on account of accident or sudden illness, it is impracticable for him to weigh in; and

(b) Rider weighed out correctly with, and carried, his proper weight.

This provision requires a Rider shall weigh in unless excused from doing so by a Stipendiary Steward. Mr Callaway was not excused. The horse is to be disqualified (again the word used is shall) unless the failure to weigh-in is justified by extraordinary circumstances, including if the Stipendiary Stewards are satisfied that, on account of accident or sudden illness, it is impracticable for the Rider to weigh in. There was no accident or illness or any other extraordinary circumstance.

Ruling

The Stewards were advised that BALZANO should be disqualified in accordance with r 647(1).