R Rotorua 5 December 2025 – R4 – Hayley Hassman

Background

This charge arises from the running of Race 4, the ENTAIN/NZB INSURANCE PEARL SERIES. Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging that the Class B Rider of DRAGON BLOSSON (H Hassman), permitted her mount to improve into insufficient room to the inside of ANOTHER FLOOZIE and as a result, clipped a heel of HUSTLE and blundered near the 375 metres. Then continued to shift outwards and buffeted with ANOTHER FLOOZIE, which was unbalanced.

Ms Hassman acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.  She was assisted by Apprentice Mentor, Mr Noel Harris.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides:

A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Evidence

Using the available race films, Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Jones demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned; namely DRAGON BLOSSOM (H Hassman), ANOTHER FLOOZIE (M Cameron) and HUSTLE (S McNab).

Mr Jones explained to the Adjudicative Committee, that ANOTHER FLOOZIE improved around DRAGON BLOSSOM, who was tracking HUSTLE into the race. ANOTHER FLOOZIE was established to the outside of DRAGON BLOSSOM, who then attempted to improve outwards and clipped the heel of HUSTLE.   When DRAGON BLOSSOM angled out, it contacted ANOTHER FLOOZIE, which was unbalanced and forced wider.

In response, Mr Harris agreed with Mr Jones’ summation, but felt that HUSTLE (S McNab) had been angling out slightly around the bend, unbalancing DRAGON BLOSSOM (H Hassman) and therefore had contributed to the incident

Ms Hassman had nothing further to add and agreed with Mr Harris.

Decision

As Ms Hassman admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proven.

Submissions for Penalty

Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley advised that Ms Hassman had a clear record under the Rule, from 217 raceday rides over the past 12 months.  Mr Harris noted that she had only started riding as an Apprentice since March, as prior to that, she had held an Amateur Rider’s Licence.

Mr Dooley said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the mid-range and submitted that any proposed suspension should be commensurate with a 7-day suspension.

Ms Hassman requested and was granted, a 9-day deferment by the Adjudicative Committee to any proposed suspension, until after racing on 13 December 2025 due to riding commitments, but in terms of penalty, offered no specific submissions.

Reasons for Penalty

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race films, the Adjudicative Committee determined Ms Hassman’s carelessness to be in the mid-range and adopted a 7-day starting point as provided for in the Penalty Guide. This is due to the evidence that the actual shift affected two horses, including clipping a heel, which confirms culpability is in the mid-range.

The available films established that Ms Hassman did allow her mount to move outwards into insufficient room and inconvenienced both HUSTLE, clipping a heel and ANOTHER FLOOZIE, by buffeting and unbalancing.

The Adjudicative Committee acknowledged Ms Hassman’s clear record under this Rule, over a 12-month period of 217 rides. A one-day reduction is applied to the 7-day starting point, in recognition of this good record. Accordingly, the Adjudicative Committee considered a 6-day suspension to be appropriate.

Conclusion

The Adjudicative Committee granted Ms Hassman a deferment to her suspension and her Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 National days, beginning after racing on Saturday 13 December 2025 and concluding after racing on Wednesday 24 December 2025.