Taranaki RI 16 August 2025 – R7 – Rihaan Goyaram
ID: RIB57973
Animal Name:
ZANZIBAR
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
16/08/2025
Race Club:
Taranaki Racing Inc
Race Location:
New Plymouth Raceway - Rogan Street, New Plymouth, 4310
Race Number:
R7
Hearing Date:
16/08/2025
Hearing Location:
New Plymouth
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Apprentice Jockey Rihaan Goyaram is fined $500
Background
Following the running of Race 7 (ITM New Plymouth Interprovincial), the Respondent Mr R Goyaram Apprentice Rider, admitted a charge alleging he used his whip with his arm above shoulder height in the final straight on his mount ZANZIBAR.
Rule 638(3)(f)(ii) provides:
(f) A Rider must not use his or her whip:
(ii) using an action that raises the Rider’s arm above shoulder height.
Mr Goyaram admitted breaching the Whip Rule, after being shown video evidence of using his whip with his arm raised above shoulder height, on one occasion down the home straight. His mount ZANZIBAR finished 2nd.
Mr Goyaram requested permission to leave the course after admitting the breach, as he needed to return north for racing commitments tomorrow. The Adjudicative Committee allowed this, and the hearing continued in his absence, with Stewards to advise him of the decision.
Evidence:
Using available videos, the Stewards identified the incident, showing one occasion where Mr Goyaram used his whip with his arm above shoulder height. His mount ZANZIBAR ran second in the race.
Decision:
As the Respondent admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the breach proved.
Penalty Submissions:
The Stewards noted that this was Mr Goyaram’s second charge under the Rule within the past six months. They advised that the Penalty Guide sets a $250 fine as the starting point, and submitted that this was the appropriate place to begin consideration of penalty.
Reasons for Penalty:
The Adjudicative Committee adopted $250 as the starting point, but considered there were aggravating factors, which justified an increase. This was Mr Goyaram’s second breach in a relatively short period of time, his mount finished second in a race with total stakes of $100,000, and he personally earned $925 in riding percentages from the placing. After balancing the circumstances, the Adjudicative Committee determined that an uplift in penalty was appropriate and that a fine of $500 was fair and proportionate.
Conclusion:
Mr Goyaram is fined the sum of $500.
Decision Date: 16/08/2025
Publish Date: 19/08/2025