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Waikato BOP H 11 February 2022 – R7 – Donald Cossey

ID: RIB7327

Respondent(s):
Donald Cossey - Trainer

Applicant:
Mr A Dooley-Stipendiary Steward

Adjudicators:
Mr A Godsalve

Persons Present:
Mr Cossey, Mr Dooley

Information Number:
A18304

Decision Type:
Race Related Charge

Charge:
Fails to scratch horse by required time.

Rule(s):
834(2)(a) - Time limit infringement

Plea:
Admitted

Stewards Report

Results

Animal Name:
HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL

Code:
Harness

Race Date:
11/02/2022

Race Club:
Waikato BOP Harness Racing Inc

Race Location:
Cambridge Raceway - 1 Taylor Street, Cambridge, 3434

Race Number:
R7

Hearing Date:
11/02/2022

Hearing Location:
Cambridge

Outcome: Proved

Penalty: Trainer Donald Cossey was fined $500

The charge arises from Race 7 at the Cambridge Harness meeting on 11 February 2022 – the HARCOURTS TA-WAIKATO BREEDERS STKS, a GROUP 3 event.

Mr Cossey had entered his horse HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL for the race. An Information was presented in which it was alleged Mr Cossey ‘ failed to scratch HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL by the required time which resulted in SALVO being denied a start’. Mr Cossey was present at the hearing and acknowledged that he understood the Rule and admitted the breach.

The Rule states : ‘ After the official right of re-entry time no person shall scratch a horse from a race unless there are sufficient circumstances which warrant the horse being scratched full details of which shall be given to the Stipendiary Steward in writing’.

Mr Dooley advised that this was a $30,000 Group 3 race and that there were two horses on the ballot, the first of which was SALVO. He said that at 8.20 am on raceday he had been alerted to the fact that HIGHVIEW ROCKN ROLL had been withdrawn from the race. He added that he had telephoned Mr Cossey who told him that he had worked the horse at 7am and that he felt that the horse was ‘sore’ and not in a fit state to race.

Mr Dooley said that by not scratching the horse by the official scratching time of 7.30am Mr Cossey had denied the horse SALVO a start in the race. He added that the connections of SALVO had been in contact about the possibility of a start however were advised that it was not possible under the current Regulations.

Mr Cossey was very apologetic, and added that he had some personal matters he was dealing with and had overlooked scratching the horse in time.

Penalty Submissions.

Mr Dooley said that the Stewards took the view that this was a serious matter as it was a Group 3 race, and that a horse which had been wanting to race, had been denied a start. He submitted a fine with a $400 starting point was appropriate.

Mr Cossey had nothing to add.

Reasons for Penalty

Previous fines of around $200 have been imposed on trainers where there was no horse denied a start, and where the race was not a Group 3.

The Adjudicative Committee took the view that there had to be an uplift of some measure on those amounts given the circumstances of this breach.

Conclusion

A fine of $500 was imposed on Mr Cossey.

Decision Date: 11/02/2022

Publish Date: 14/02/2022