Riccarton Park – North Canterbury RC 27 September 2025 – R5 – Corey Campbell

Following the running of Race 5, Neil Tuttle Rating 75, Class A Jockey, Corey Campbell, admitted a breach of Rule 638(3)(f)(iii) in that, as the Rider of MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS in the race, he “struck his mount on two occasions when the horse was out of contention”.

Rule 638 provides:

 (3) (f) Without limiting the generality of subrule (3)(e), in a Flat Race . . . a Rider must not    use his or her whip:

             (iii) when the Rider’s horse is out of contention of finishing in the first five placings.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, showed a video replay of the final 400 metres of the race. He pointed out MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS, ridden by Mr Campbell, racing on the rail behind the leader, ALLIBOR, as the field turned into the final straight. He then showed Mr Campbell, near the 300 metres, use his whip on one occasion when still in contention, he said. The horse was immediately under pressure and going backwards, Mr Davidson submitted.  He showed Mr Campbell then use his whip on two more occasions, both of which were “probably OK”, but the horse was by then a beaten runner, he said. There were two further strikes from that point, when the horse was clearly a beaten runner, with no hope of finishing in the first five placings, Mr Davidson said.

The Adjudicative Committee noted that MAXIMUS AUGUSTUS finished in second-to-last position (11th in the 12-horse field), 6.2 lengths from the winner of the race.

Mr Campbell said that it was an old habit from when stakes were paid back to the 10th finisher. He had been trying to finish in the first ten, he said.

DECISION:

The breach having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Davidson said that Mr Campbell has a clear record under the Rule. The Penalty Guide starting point is a fine of $300 and Stewards saw the penalty as being at that level. Previous fines under the Rule had been in the range of $300 to $750. This breach was low-level, he said.

Mr Campbell did not wish to make any penalty submission.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

“Out of contention” usually means the horse has dropped out, or is not in a competitive position, or cannot improve its placing. There have clearly been two strikes of the whip, in this case, where the horse was “out of contention” in terms of that definition. Breaches of this Rule are relatively rare.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (February 2025) provides a starting point for a breach of the Rule of a $300 fine. That is for a medium-level breach. This breach involved only two offending strikes which were by no means forceful and is, therefore, low-level. Mr Campbell has a clear record under the Rule and has made a very frank admission of the breach.

Having regard to the low-level nature of the breach and the mitigating factors referred to, a discount from the Penalty Guide starting point is appropriate and the Adjudicative Committee fixes that discount at $50.

CONCLUSION:

Class A Jockey, Corey Campbell, is fined the sum of $250.