Rangiora HRC 30 April 2023 – R1 – Kyle Cameron

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 1, Anne Thompson Memorial Graduation Heat 1 Trot, Open Driver, Kyle Cameron, as the Driver of KING OF DIAMONDS in the race, admitted a charge of using his whip in more than a wrist flicking motion passing the 1000 metres.

Rule 869 provides:

(2)  No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.

The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:

3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Paul Williams, showed a video replay of the race, as the field approached the 1000 metres. He pointed out KING OF DIAMONDS, driven by the Respondent, racing in the one-out/one-back position at that point of the race. Shortly after passing the 1000 metres, Mr Williams showed, the Respondent struck his runner once with the whip, followed by three times in quick succession, and a further three times in quick succession.

It was the contention of Stewards that all seven strikes involved more than a wrist only flicking motion.

The Respondent did not wish to make any submissions, except to say that the horse, at the trials, tended to drop the bit and pull up at the gateway on the outside of the track, and he feared it was about to do that.

DECISION:

The charge is admitted and is therefore deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williams said that the Respondent has had 65 drives this season and 238 last season. He has received two warnings since November of last year for using his whip in more than a wrist only flicking motion. Stewards believed that this breach was low-level, for which the penalty starting point is a $300 fine or a 2-days suspension.

The Respondent said that he accepted a 2-days suspension, and would like it deferred until after the meeting of Rangiora HRC on 7 May 2023.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee accepted the submission of the Stewards that the breach was low-level (“when a driver inadvertently reverts to the old style (freehand, loose-reining and/or more than a flicking motion) but promptly takes corrective steps to return to a compliant style”).

For such a breach, the RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide suggests a starting point for penalty of a 2-days suspension. That is the appropriate penalty in this case, there being no relevant aggravating factors or mitigating factors.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Open Driver, Kyle Cameron, is suspended from after racing on 7 May 2023 up to and including 14 May 2023 – 2 days.