South Canterbury RC 6 October 2023 – R4 – Lee Callaway

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 4, Kelmans On Track Today @ PLR 1200m, Class A Jockey, Lee Callaway, admitted a charge of careless riding in that, as the Rider of JUSTANACE in the race, he permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of KIKIMORA (Jasmine Fawcett) which was dictated inwards crowding TOWN BELT (Akshay Balloo) onto JUST MAYBE (Kylie Williams) which were both checked passing the 1000 metres.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides:

A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Veronica Algar, had Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, show video replays of the incident, approximately 200 metres after the start of the 1200 metres race.  Mr Oatham pointed out JUSTANACE, ridden by the Respondent, which had drawn gate 12 in the 14-horse field and KIKIMORA (Jasmine Fawcett) which had drawn inside it in gate 9.   Approaching the 1000 metres, Mr Callaway angled his mount inwards from the wide draw, dictating the line of Ms Fawcett’s mount to his inside, forcing it onto two runners on her inside, TOWN BELT and JUST MAYBE. On a side-on video replay, Mr Oatham showed that the Respondent was only a ½ length in front of Ms Fawcett’s mount when he dictated her inwards. Mr Balloo had called out and the Respondent reacted and immediately relieved the pressure, but it was “too little, too late”, Mr Oatham said.

The Respondent asked the Adjudicative Committee to consider that, when he had jumped and crossed, there was a space between his and Ms Fawcett’s runner. Ms Fawcett had commenced to shift in and he had come across to follow her in, but he had come in a “fraction quicker” than he intended. His horse was wearing a pricker, he said. He added that he did not expect Mr Balloo to “kick up” into the gap, which contributed to the tightening. He admitted the breach but was a little unlucky, he submitted.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Davidson said that the Respondent has three previous breaches of the Careless Riding Rule on his record – on 19 January 2023 at Ashburton (suspended 5 days for low-to-mid level breach), on 22 April 2023 at Riccarton (suspended 4 days for low-to-mid-level breach) and, most recently, on 4 May 2023 at Riccarton (suspended 5 days for a low-level breach).

The Respondent has had 213 rides this season, Mr Davidson said.

The Respondent had no submission to make concerning penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach is assessed by the Adjudicative Committee as mid-range careless riding. The Respondent has crossed from a wide barrier draw and has wrongly anticipated that Ms Fawcett, on his inside, was continuing to shift in. He had shifted his mount inwards a bit more quickly than he intended and, although he did so with some care and did take corrective action, it was too late.

The starting point in the RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) for a mid-range breach is a 7-days suspension.

The Respondent’s riding record is a neutral factor. Although he has 3 previous breaches on his record, the Adjudicative Committee notes, firstly, that the most recent was 5 months ago and, secondly, he has had 274 rides in the last 12 months. The Respondent is given a 1-day discount from the starting point for his admission of the breach. The term of suspension is, therefore, 6 days.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Class A Jockey, Lee Callaway’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for 6 national riding days, to commence after the conclusion of racing on 14 October 2023 and ending after the close of racing on 22 October 2023.