Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 9 August 2025 – R9 – Pam Gerard
ID: RIB57754
Animal Name:
Cork
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
09/08/2025
Race Club:
Canterbury Jockey Club
Race Location:
Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch,
Race Number:
R9
Hearing Date:
09/08/2025
Hearing Location:
Riccarton Park, Christchurch
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Trainer, Pam Gerard, is fined $200
The Information alleges that Pam Gerard, the Trainer of CORK, an acceptor for Race 9, Heatstore Open Handicap, failed to declare a Rider for the horse by the required time.
Ms Gerard had endorsed the Information “I do admit the breach”. Her attendance at the hearing was waived by the Adjudicative Committee, having regard to the minor nature of the charge.
Rule 537 provides as follows:
The Trainer or Owner or lessee (as the case may be) or the Agent of the Trainer or Owner or lessee (as the case may be) for a horse accepted or deemed to have been accepted for a Race shall:
(a) declare to NZTR the name of the Rider of that horse by the time and date specified by NZTR for declaration of Riders for that Race.
EVIDENCE:
Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, said that no Rider had been declared for CORK until just prior to scratching time this morning. Ms Gerard had told Stewards that she had a couple of Riders arranged. One such Rider was Kelly Myers, who had decided not to attend the meeting, due to not getting enough rides. That was earlier in the week, but Ms Gerard had decided to wait until raceday to put Toni Davies on, probably hoping for a scratching to enable her to engage a Senior Rider, Mr Oatham said.
DECISION:
The charge having been admitted, it was deemed proved.
PENALTY SUBMISSION:
Mr Oatham said that this was Ms Gerard’s fourth breach, hence the filing of the Information:
on 3 May 2025 at Waikato – $50 fine;
on 31 May 2025 at Waikato – $100 fine; and
on 2 June at Te Aroha – $150 fine.
Stewards considered that a fine in the vicinity of $200 would be appropriate.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
It is important that Trainers notify Riders in time, for reasons of fairness to punters, transparency and operational efficiency.
Ms Gerard has continued to breach the Rule, this present charge being her fourth in the reset period. Appropriately, the fines for each breach have been increased, by way of a deterrent to Ms Gerard.
The most recent fine, the Adjudicative Committee notes, was $150. A fine of $200 for this breach, as submitted by Mr Oatham, seems entirely appropriate.
CONCLUSION:
Class A Trainer, Pam Gerard, is fined the sum of $200.
Decision Date: 09/08/2025
Publish Date: 11/08/2025