Waikato BOP H 5 June 2025 – R6 – Neita Balle
ID: RIB55895
Animal Name:
C U THERE
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
05/06/2025
Race Club:
Waikato BOP Harness Racing Inc
Race Location:
Cambridge Raceway - 1 Taylor Street, Cambridge, 3434
Race Number:
R6
Hearing Date:
05/06/2025
Hearing Location:
Cambridge Raceway
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Junior Driver N Balle is suspended for 2 days
Summary of Facts:
Following the running of Race 6, the Respondent N Balle admitted a breach of Whip Rule 869(2). The particulars of the charge are that she used her whip in a continuous manner throughout the run home.
Rule 869 provides that:
(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.
Stipendiary Steward V Munro used available video footage to demonstrate the breach. He said that Ms Balle entered the home straight in the trailing position making use of the passing lane when turning for the run home. He said that Ms Balle started to use her whip from the 150m point and continued to use it for the length of the straight.
In response, Ms Balle said that she didn’t realise she had used her whip continuously until she had seen the video films and she was trying to keep her horse going.
Mr McCaffrey, who was providing support to Ms Balle, said that it wasn’t a serious breach and Ms Balle used a swooping action of her whip and reins to encourage her horse, not punish it.
Decision:
The charge is admitted and therefore proved.
Submissions for Penalty:
Mr Mulcay produced Ms Balle’s record which was clear. He said Stewards viewed it as a mid range breach, due to the distance of the continuous action and submitted a penalty in line with the Guidelines was appropriate.
Ms Balle indicated she would prefer a suspension rather than a fine, which she would look to take immediately. Mr McCaffrey suggested that a $500 fine was quite a large penalty for a Junior Driver.
Reasons for Penalty:
After consideration of the evidence from all parties concerned and viewing the race films of the concluding stages of the race, the Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as mid range.
The continuous action occurred for approximately 150m and while there was no force generated and the other aspects of the Whip & Rein Regulations were met, Ms Balle should have paused the application of the whip to give her horse an opportunity to respond.
Having considered all factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed a suspension of 2 days to be an appropriate penalty.
Conclusion:
Ms Balle is suspended for 2 days.
12th June 2025 – Cambridge
13th June 2025 – Auckland
Decision Date: 05/06/2025
Publish Date: 09/06/2025