Reefton TC 30 December 2022 – R4 – Alana Cameron
ID: RIB14526
Animal Name:
STAMP DUTY
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
30/12/2022
Race Club:
Reefton Trotting Club
Race Location:
Reefton Racecourse - Lower Broadway,, Reefton,
Race Number:
R4
Hearing Date:
30/12/2022
Hearing Location:
Reefton Racecourse
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Junior Driver, Alana Cameron suspended for 3 days
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 4, Hotel Reefton Liquor Centre Pace, the Respondent, Junior Driver, Alana Cameron, as the Driver of STAMP DUTY in the Race, admitted a charge of using her whip in more than wrist flicking motion in the run home.
The Respondent was assisted at the hearing by Open Driver, Matt Purvis.
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, Shane Renault, showed video replays of the final 350 metres of the Race. He pointed out STAMP DUTY, driven by the Respondent, being the widest runner as the field turned into the home straight. Shortly after activating gear early in the run home at about the 150 metres, the Respondent commenced to use her whip, and did so in more than a wrist only flicking motion, engaging her elbow, before reverting to a compliant style inside the final 30 metres, Mr Renault said.
DECISION:
The charge is admitted and is therefore deemed proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, said that the Respondent had received a 2-day suspension for using her whip in more than a wrist only flicking motion at the Westport TC meeting on 28 December 2022. She has had 37 drives this season and 139 last season The starting point for a second breach is a 3-5 day suspension, he said. The breach was mid-level, he submitted.
Miss Cameron is currently suspended up to and including 8 January 2023, he said.
Mr Purvis said that the Respondent would have drives at both days of the Nelson TC meeting (13 and 15 January) and Ashburton TC on 17 January 2023.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The Adjudicative Committee found that this breach was medium-level as defined in the Penalty Guide, that is to say – “when a driver inadvertently reverts to the old style (freehand, loose reining and/or more than a flicking motion) and continues to drive in the old manner for some distance (50 metres) before taking corrective steps to return to a compliant style of driving”.
For a second offence, medium-level breach, the penalty starting point is a 3-5 day suspension. There are no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors to consider.
CONCLUSION:
The Respondent, Junior Driver Alana Cameron, is suspended for 3 days, commencing on 9 January 2023 and ending after 17 January 2023.
Decision Date: 30/12/2022
Publish Date: 18/01/2023