Waikato BOP H 11 August 2022 – R6 – Alan Beecroft
ID: RIB10589
Animal Name:
MR INCREDIBLE
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
11/08/2022
Race Club:
Waikato BOP Harness Racing Inc
Race Location:
Cambridge Raceway - 1 Taylor Street, Cambridge, 3434
Race Number:
R6
Hearing Date:
11/08/2022
Hearing Location:
Cambridge Raceway (Remote Adjudicator)
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Driver, Alan Beecroft suspended for 4 weeks
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 6, King of Swing at Cobbitty Equine Mobile Pace, the Respondent Graduation Driver, Alan Beecroft, admitted a breach of Whip Rule 869(2). The particulars of the charge are that the Respondent, as the driver of MR INCREDIBLE in the race, used his whip with more than a wrist only flicking motion rounding the final bend and in the run home.
Rule 869 provides:
(2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Use of the Whip Regulations made by the Board.
The Whip and Rein Regulations provide:
3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the point of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.
EVIDENCE:
Mr Shane Renault, showed a video replay of the final 200-300 metres of the race. He pointed out MR INCREDIBLE, driven by the Respondent, moving out from 3-back on the markers to improve wide just prior to the home turn. Once into the clear at about the 300 metres, the Respondent commenced using his whip in more than a wrist only flicking motion and continued to do so for most of the home straight. Mr Renault said that the Respondent had had it explained to him after the last meeting what a wrist only flicking motion was but, unfortunately on this occasion, he had used his elbow throughout the run home.
The number of strikes was approximately 15, Mr Renault said, and Stewards were therefore classing the breach as high level.
DECISION:
The charge is admitted and therefore proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Renault said that the Respondent was issued with a warning regarding his whip use in his last drive on the same horse. He has had 3 drives this season (since 1 January 2022) and 4 drives last season.
The starting point for a high level breach is a suspension of 3 days. The suspension should be for 3 weeks, Mr Renault submitted, based on one drive per week. Any period of suspension should be in addition to the term of suspension imposed for the breach of the careless driving Rule earlier at this meeting, he said.
The Respondent did not wish to make any submission in relation to penalty.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
This breach is clearly a “high-level breach” as defined in the HRNZ Whip Penalty Guide. That is to say, “when a driver shows a total disregard for the requirements of the Regulation and makes no effort to return to a compliant style of driving”. The Respondent has used his whip over 300 metres with little respite. The Committee trusts that he is now aware of what is expected of him under the Regulation, if he did not know before now.
There needs to be a significant penalty for this breach. It is difficult to assess what is “3 days” in the case of the Respondent, who has had only three drives this year.
The Committee is satisfied that the penalty needs to be one of weeks rather than days in the circumstances. The Respondent will be suspended for a period of 4 weeks.
CONCLUSION – PENALTY:
Graduation Driver, Alan Beecroft, is suspended for 4 weeks commencing on 4 November up to and including 1 December 2022.
Decision Date: 11/08/2022
Publish Date: 14/08/2022