Waikato RC 18 January 2023 – R7- Jake Bayliss

Following the running of Race 7, the Respondent Mr Jake Bayliss admitted a charge alleging use of whip in consecutive strides over the concluding stages.

Rule 638(3)(g)(ii) provides that in a Flat Race a Rider must not:

(ii) strike a horse with a whip in consecutive strides at any stage of the race.

Using the available race films, Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones demonstrated that Mr Bayliss struck his mount 2 times consecutively over the concluding stages of the race.

In response, by way of explanation Mr Bayliss said that he had been struggling to adapt having previously ridden at Singapore where the Whip Rules were very loose and the New Zealand Rules required him to make a big change. He said that he was making an effort to improve and conceded that if he didn’t, it was going to cost him a lot of money.

Decision

As Mr Bayliss admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved (Rule 915(1)(d) refers).

Submissions For Penalty

Mr Jones produced the Respondent’s record which indicated 3 previous breaches, which all occurred on the 30^th of December at Taupo.

Stewards assessed the breach as low and submitted a penalty commensurate with the NZTR Revised Penalty Guide for improper whip use (as of 1 March 2022).

Mr Bayliss had nothing to add in relation to penalty considerations.

Reasons For Penalty

The Penalty Guide starting point for a breach of this nature is  $500.

After considering the film evidence and the submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined there are no compelling reasons to depart from the starting point set out in the Penalty Guide.

On that basis the Respondent is fined $500.

Conclusion

The Respondent is fined $500.