Rangiora HRC 3 March 2024 – R1 – Neil Munro
ID: RIB39775
Animal Name:
Edge Sheeran
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
03/03/2024
Race Club:
Rangiora Harness Racing Club
Race Location:
Rangiora Racecourse - 312 Lehmans Road, Fernside, Rangiora, 7440
Race Number:
R1
Hearing Date:
03/03/2024
Hearing Location:
Rangiora Racecourse, Rangiora
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Licensed Advanced Amateur Driver, Neil Munro, fined $200
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 1, Taggart Earthmoving (Amateur Drivers) Mobile Pace, Advanced Amateur Driver, Neil Munro, admitted a breach of Rule 869(4) and (6)(b) & (c) in that, as the Driver of EDGE SHEERAN in the race, he shifted wider on the track near the 1450 metres forcing FOVEAUX GAMBLER (Colleen Negus) wider on the track – an alleged breach of the Pushout Rule.
Rule 869 provides as follows:
 (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.
(6) Subject to sub-rule (4) hereof:-
(b) a horse during any race shall not be forced to race wider on the track;
(c) a horse during a race shall not move ground outwards once the nose of the wider runner coming forward is in line with or past its sulky wheel and until the wider runner going forward is fully past.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Matt Sole, showed available video replays of the incident with approximately 1450 metres to run. He pointed out EDGE SHEERAN, driven by the Respondent, racing 3-places back on the markers in the 7-horse field. FOVEAUX GAMBLER, driven by Colleen Negus, was racing to its outside. On the turn into the straight, the Respondent directed his runner outwards, forcing Mrs Negus to take evasive action to allow him to come out and was forced to race wider on the track. Unfortunately for the Respondent, Mr Sole said, just had the head of her horse outside the Respondent’s sulky wheel.
The Respondent declined the opportunity to comment.
DECISION:
The charge having been admitted, it was deemed proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Sole said that the Respondent has had 118 lifetime – 2 drives in the current season and 17 in the 2023 season. His record under the Rule is clear.
Mr Sole referred the Adjudicative Committee to the starting point for penalty for a first breach of a $200 fine in the Penalty Guide.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) suggests a starting point for penalty of a fine of $200.
The Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that a $200 was appropriate for the breach.
CONCLUSION:
The Respondent, Advanced Amateur Driver, Neil Munro, is fined $200.
Decision Date: 03/03/2024
Publish Date: 06/03/2024