R Te Aroha 20 September 2026 – R4 – Joshua Parker

Evidence

Following the running of Race 4, the $200,000 Prestige B & R Foote Racing Great New Zealand Steeplechase, the Respondent Class D (Jumps Jockey) Mr Joshua Parker admitted a charge alleging excessive whip use.

The Information alleged that he struck his mount CAPTAINS RUN 13 times.

Rule 638(3)(h)(i) provides that a Jumps Rider must not  (i) strike a horse with a whip more than 7 times in total (other than in a slapping motion down the shoulder with the whip hand remaining on the reins);

Using the available race films, Stipendiary Steward Mr G Stewart demonstrated that Mr Parker struck his mount, CAPTAINS RUN, 13 times. He pointed out that the first strike was applied near the 550 metres. A further two strikes were applied between the second to last and last fence and 10 more strikes were the applied to the finish.

In response, Mr Parker made the following submissions:

1. That it was the biggest jumps race of the year.
2. That he has not previously breached the whip rule this season.
3. That he does not usually “batter horses.”
4. That his mount has “rallied nicely” over the concluding stages of the race.

Decision

As Mr Parker admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Jones advised that Mr Parker has a clear record under the Rule.

Mr Jones submitted that this breach occurred in a Prestige Race and in finishing in second place, Mr Parker’s share of the stake money is 10% of $37,000. 50% of his share equates to $1,850. Mr Jones added that an aggravating factor is that due to the number of strikes, the Penalty Guide also provides for a suspension to be imposed in addition to any fine.

Mr Parker submitted, with regards to a fine, that “money is a big issue” and canvassed a suspension to be imposed rather than a fine.

Reasons for Penalty

The Penalty Guide starting point for a first breach in a Jumps Race involving four or more additional strikes is a 1-day suspension.

As this is the final Jumps Race Meeting of 2026, it is not practical to impose a suspension because the 2027 Jumps Calendar has yet to be determined or published. Accordingly, although a suspension would ordinarily be imposed, for a charge of this nature it will be substituted with a fine. The fines have been calculated on the basis of a $500 fine in lieu of a one-day suspension. This is considered fair and reasonable, given that a Jumps Rider receives about $420 per ride and generally has one or two rides per Jumps Race Day.

In this instance, Mr Parker, based on the above calculation, would receive a fine in excess of $500 because he used his whip 13 times, which is 6 more than permitted. However, the Adjudicative Committee, for this part of his penalty, imposes a $400 fine because as explained in the following paragraph, he also is liable to receive a significant fine, due to the breach having occurred in a Prestige Race.

With regards to Whip Breaches in Prestige Jumps Races, the Penalty Guide provides:

• No warnings will be issued for breaches of the Whip Rules in any Prestige Jumping race.
• In all breaches of the Whip Rules (638(3)(g) and 638(3)(h)) in any Prestige Jumping race, a fine will be imposed in addition to any suspension provided for in the tables above.
• The starting point for any such fine will be an amount equal to 50% of the Jockey’s share of the stake earned by their mount or the starting point on the whip penalty table, whichever is greater, and may be in addition to any suspension imposed as above.

After considering the film evidence and submissions of Stewards and Mr Parker, which were not compelling to mitigate the breach and having due regard to the number of strikes (13), the Adjudicative Committee determined that a fine of $,1850 (50% of his share of the stake) plus $400 in lieu of a 1-day suspension, be imposed. This equates to a total fine of $2,250.

Conclusion

Mr J Parker is fined $2,250.