Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 9 July 2025 – R4 – Courtney Renee Barnes

Following the running of Race 4, Group 1 Raceday Party – 13 September Maiden, an Information was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Veronica Fisher, against Class A Jockey, Courtney Barnes, alleging that Ms Barnes “misconducted herself after being dislodged from her mount WATER LILIES during the preliminary”.

Ms Barnes had signed the Information “I do admit a beach of the rule” and she confirmed her plea at the hearing.

Rule 800 provides as follows:

A Licensed Person, Owner, lessee, Racing Manager, Official or other person bound by these Rules must not misconduct themself in any matter relating to the conduct of Races or racing.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide, in relation to “Whip Rule Breaches”, provides that “The whip should not be used inappropriately on a horse at any time. In particular, excessive, unnecessary or improper use of the whip outside of a race may be regarded as misconduct under Rule 800 of the Rules” 

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Veronica Fisher, showed on a video replay, WATER LILIES, ridden by Ms Barnes, doing its preliminary and heading to the starting gates at the 1400 metres starting point. The video then showed that WATER LILIES shied at the gates and dislodged Ms Barnes, Mrs Fisher said. After regaining her feet, Ms Barnes struck the horse once with her whip in the “stomach area”, Mrs Fisher said. She added that the video shown were the images that had gone out on the Trackside channel.

Ms Barnes said that it was clear on the video what had happened. She said she had reacted in “the heat of the moment” and was not proud of her actions, which were inappropriate.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mrs Fisher referred the Adjudicative Committee to three recent similar misconduct breaches:

Jasmine Fawcett at Ruakaka on 18 December 2024 – struck her mount twice on the back of the neck when in the barriers – fined $750.

Jason Zuppicich (Starter’s Assistant) at New Plymouth on 27 December 2024 – horse reluctant to enter the stalls – slapped it with his hand and kicked it in the stomach – fined $300.

Leah Hemi at Riccarton on 15 January 2025 – struck horse twice in the head while in the barriers – fined $750.

Mrs Fisher said that the breach was less serious than those of Fawcett and Hemi, and submitted that a fine of between $350 and $500 would be appropriate.

Ms Barnes said that she has been riding for over 10 years and this breach is her first breach of the Misconduct Rule.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

Ms Barnes was correct when she said that her actions were inappropriate. She has struck her mount with her whip once in the stomach or barrel area. As a general rule, many horses dislike their stomachs being touched, and should never be struck in the stomach with a whip.  To do so, poses an unjustified risk of pain, fear or injury and violates the core principles of animal welfare. Furthermore, it is damaging to the integrity of racing, and the public’s trust in racing’s commitment to horse welfare.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide does not provide a starting point for a breach of the Misconduct Rule, but simply states that it is “fact dependent”. The Adjudicative Committee adopts a starting point for the present breach of a fine of $750, being the fine imposed in each of the Fawcett and Hemi cases.

It is an aggravating factor that Ms Barnes’ actions were shown on the Trackside television channel, and would have been seen by viewers. However, the starting point is not raised for that factor.

Ms Barnes is given a discount for her previous good record and her admission of the breach and, the Adjudicative Committee agrees with Mrs Fisher, the breach was, arguably, less serious than in Fawcett and Hemi. The Adjudicative Committee did not find the Zuppicich case to be of assistance involving, as it did, a Starter’s Assistant. For those factors, the Adjudicative Committee applies a discount of $250 from the $750 starting point.

The Adjudicative Committee records that Ms Barnes made no apology for her actions, and neither did she evince any degree of remorse. The Adjudicative Committee might otherwise have given her further credit had she done so.

CONCLUSION:

Class A Jockey, Courtney Barnes, is fined $500.