Otago RC 30 November 2025 – R2 – Brandon May

BACKGROUND

Following the running of Race 2, Class A Rider Brandon May admitted a breach of Rule 636(1)(d), the details of which were that he failed to ride his mount, LEROY, out to the end of the race when a reasonable chance of finishing in a higher placing.

Rule 636 provides as follows:

(1)  A person:

(d) being the Rider of a horse in a Race, must ride his horse out to the end of the Race if there is a reasonable chance of it running into a position for which there is prize money to be awarded or a dividend to be declared.

Mr May confirmed his admission of the breach, and that he understood the Rule and the nature of the charge.

EVIDENCE

Senior Stipendiary Steward Mark Davidson invited his colleague, Rebecca Haley, to use the available race videos to illustrate the alleged breach in the home straight. Ms Haley identified LEROY approaching the 100 metre mark, situated one-off the rail in 3rd place and under strong riding from the Respondent. Mr May stopped pushing his horse from about the 50 metre mark and showed no vigour in this closing stage of the race, Ms Haley said.

She identified SINCERE (Ayush Mudhoo) finishing strongly to claim 4th place by a nose from LEROY, which finished 5th.

Mr May had told Stewards LEROY was hanging in the home straight and proved to be a difficult ride, Ms Haley added. Addressing this point, Mr Davidson said Mr May did not need to use the whip but was required to “stay down and keep pushing.” Mr May had a chance of finishing 4th and had disadvantaged the connections of LEROY and the betting public by failing to ride out.

A post-race veterinary check of LEROY did not find any issues, Mr Davidson said.

“It certainly has lugged out early in the run home, but (Mr May) has continued to ride and he has done the right thing by straightening it,” Mr Davidson said. He added that LEROY appeared to be running straight when Mr May relaxed his riding effort over the last 40 or 50 metres.

LEROY was having his first attempt at the 2030 metre trip and had lugged out after leading into the straight, Mr May told the Adjudicative Committee. He said his horse was shifting closer to SEFTON (Rahul Beeharry) while being ridden with the whip. Mr May said he stopped using the whip in an effort to keep out of trouble.

Mr May said he stopped riding LEROY late in the race because the horse felt “indifferent” and was attempting a longer trip for the first time. Mr May said he believed he had secured 4th place and did not realise SINCERE was closing the race off strongly.

DECISION

As Mr May has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY

Stewards produced the Respondent’s record, which was clear under this Rule. Mr Davidson pointed to the Racing Integrity Board’s Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide, which provides a starting point of a 2-week suspension when a Jockey fails to ride out for 4th place.

Penalties for other breaches of the Rule involving the potential loss of 4th place were shared with the Adjudicative Committee by Stewards. These included the following more recent cases:

*Samantha Wynne – Wingatui (2 June 2024) – 6-day suspension

*Tina Comignaghi – Riverton (21 April 2025) – 6-day suspension

*Hayley Hassman – Wingatui (1 June 2025) – 5-day suspension.

The effective riding days captured by a period of suspension was a factor Adjudicative Committees might wish to consider, Mr Davidson said.

In his submission on penalty, Mr May reiterated that LEROY had not maintained a straight run to the line. He accepted that he had stopped riding, but said he had done so to avoid potentially causing interference, and in the belief 4th place was securely his.

Mr May requested a deferment of any possible suspension, to allow him to fulfil riding engagements at Riccarton on 5 December 2025.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

Having ridden LEROY with vigour for most of the home straight, Mr May relaxes his effort and stops pushing his horse for the last 40 or 50 metres of the race. The Respondent submits three reasons for doing so; his horse was wandering off a straight line and, late in its first attempt at the 2030 metre trip, had felt “indifferent.” Also, Mr May says he believed he had nailed down 4th place.

SINCERE finishes strongly to pip LEROY for 4th place by a nose.

The evidence does not support Mr May’s other claims. Although LEROY lugs out earlier in the run home, he maintains a true line late in the race when no longer being ridden out. Additionally, a post-race check reveals no veterinary issues.

The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a 2-week suspension when a Jockey fails to ride out for 4th place. This is a reasonably uncommon breach of the Rules that, in recent times and with reference to the potential loss of 4th place, has resulted in suspensions of 5 or 6 national riding days.

The Adjudicative Committee takes particular note of the two most recent precedents involving Senior Riders (Wynne and Comignaghi). They were both suspended for 6 national riding days which, in each case, saw them sidelined for 3 South Island meetings.

Allowing Mr May to defer a 2-week suspension until after he rides at Riccarton on 5 December 2025 involves a total of 9 national riding days, only one of which is a South Island meeting.

In fairness to other Riders penalised in similar circumstances, and to reflect the significant distance over which Mr May stopped riding out (some 40 to 50 metres), the Adjudicative Committee finds it necessary to apply an uplift to a starting point of a 2-week (or, in this case, 9 day) suspension. Any penalty for Mr May needs to be commensurate with those handed down to other Riders who breached the Rule in similar circumstances.

A suspension of 12 days from the conclusion of racing on 5 December 2025 is considered appropriate, reduced by one day to reflect Mr May’s admission of the breach. This results in a suspension of 11 national riding days, which includes 2 South Island meetings.

The Adjudicative Committee stresses that the increased length of suspension is necessary to incorporate effective South Island meetings. This context is important should the Respondent’s penalty history with respect to this Rule be subsequently raised.

CONCLUSION

The Respondent’s request for a deferment is granted. Jockey Brandon May’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from the conclusion of racing on 5 December 2025, up to and including racing on 21 December 2025. This is 11 national riding days. The period of suspension includes two South Island days, the Southland RC meeting on 13 December and the Tapanui RC meeting on 21 December 2025.