Rangiora HRC 17 February 2024 – R1 – Cheree Wigg

EVIDENCE:

Following the running of Race 1, Stipendiary Steward Mr Paul Williams presented an Information alleging a breach of Rule 869(4) by Amateur Driver Miss Cheree Wigg.

Rule 869(4) and the Home Straight Regulations provides:

(4) 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.

(7) Except where a driver is making a move pursuant to Rule 869(7) and subject to the preceding provisions of this regulation where applicable, every horse shall upon entering the home straight prior to the finish maintain as straight a course as possible to the finish line.

Miss Wigg stated she was conversant with the Rule and the Charge and confirmed she did not admit the breach.

Mr Williams played the head on and side on video of the final straight to identify Miss Wigg driving the favourite in the race, PURE COURAGE, leading the field.

Mr Williams pointed to Miss Wigg drift out into the line of ARIZONAWILDCAT (K McClintock) at the 200m, hampering that runner for a stride or two, and continued to drift wider in the run to the line, being approximately 3 to 4 sulky widths wider at the winning post.

Mr Williams said it was the responsibility of the Driver to maintain a straight course in the run home and on this occasion, Miss Wigg has not. He said there was slight interference to another horse and Miss Wigg has just not done enough to straighten her drive.

Miss Wigg used the videos to demonstrate PURE COURAGE racing hard on the inside rein. She said her horse had its head on its side as they entered the straight and the interference to ARIZONAWILDECAT, was minor and it had run its race. Miss Wigg pointed to PURE COURAGE 50m out from the post, pace roughly, because she said it was still on one rein and fighting it. Miss Wigg said as the challengers came, she had to drive her horse out, which enabled the horse to drift out a little more.

Mr Williams, in summary, said the onus is on the Driver to maintain a straight course in the run home and Miss Wigg has failed to do this.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The videos clearly support Miss Wigg’s evidence that PURE COURAGE has been on one rein and running out for a lengthy period of the race. As the horse approaches the passing lane, it is already one extra sulky width out and despite Miss Wigg’s efforts, continues to drift and does inconvenience ARIZONAWILDCAT for a stride or two. At this point, ARIZONAWILDCAT did appeared to have run its race. From this juncture, Miss Wigg has continued to have PURE COURAGE’S head turned in, attempting to keep a straight line.

The Adjudicative Committee, with cognizance of the Rule and consideration of Mr Williams’ submissions, believe Miss Wigg has done her best to keep her horse straight. Had she persisted in tightening her inside rein further at the finish, the rough strides her horse produced could well have turned into a gallop.

After viewing the videos many times, the Adjudicative Committee considers it would be a very harsh decision to penalise Miss Wigg.

CONCLUSION:

The Charge is dismissed.