Wanganui JC 29 December 2024 – R8 – Kavish Chowdhoory

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 8, the Respondent Class A Rider Mr Kavish Chowdhoory admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).  The Information alleged that K Chowdhoory (LEAVE A LIGHT ON) allowed his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of MOSSRAAJ (K Hercock), which was checked.

Mr Chowdhoory acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Using the available race films, Stipendiary Steward Mr Goodwin demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Chowdhoory started from gate no.11 and Ms Hercock gate no. 9. Mr Goodwin said Mr Chowdhoory was looking for a run closer to the running rail, but came across when not sufficiently clear of Ms Hercock.  His misjudgement resulted in Ms Hercock blundering and losing her position in the field. Mr Goodwin said LEAVE A LIGHT ON was travelling in a tractable manner and rejected Mr Chowdhoory’s assertion that the horse had been difficult to control.

Mr Chowdhoory had nothing to say.

Decision:

As the Respondent admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Goodwin produced Mr Chowdhoory’s riding record, which indicated 6 previous breaches under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months, namely:

23/11/24  Wanganui – 8 days

23/11/24  Wanganui – 7 days

15/9/24  Awapuni – 5 days

30/6/24  Otago – 4 days

13/4/24  Riccarton – 5 days

10/2/24  Riccarton  – 5 days

Mr Chowdhoory has had 340 mounts in the past 12 months.

Mr Goodwin said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the mid range.

Mr Chowdhoory had no submissions to make in regards to penalty, but advised of riding commitments through until January 2nd.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Adjudicative Committee has determined that Mr Chowdhoory’s careless riding falls within the mid-range category, warranting a starting point of a 7-day suspension, as per the NZTR Penalty Guide (March 2024).

It is normal at the start of a race for Riders to seek the best position, and for wider-drawn runners to secure runs closer to the running rail, but it must be executed with proper clearance of trailing runners. This is what Mr Chowdhoory was attempting, when he came across from barrier no.11.

Video evidence clearly showed Mr Chowdhoory looking to his inside, indicating awareness of Ms Hercock’s position. Despite this, he continued to move across without the required two-length clearance. As a result, Ms Hercock’s mount dipped and checked backwards, narrowly avoiding a fall.

Mr Chowdhoory’s riding record is considered a significant aggravating factor in this case. This incident marks his 7th careless riding charge in the past 12 months, demonstrating a concerning pattern of riding. The Adjudicative Committee emphasises that the safety of both horse and Rider is paramount in racing. Mr Chowdhoory’s actions posed a significant risk to Ms Hercock and her mount.

Given the mid-range nature of the careless riding incident and Mr Chowdhoory’s poor record, the Adjudicative Committee considers a 10-day suspension appropriate. This includes a 3-day uplift from the starting point, to reflect the seriousness of Mr Chowdhoory’s repeated offences. The Adjudicative Committee hopes that this increased penalty will serve as a strong deterrent and encourage Mr Chowdhoory to improve his riding practices.

Mr Chowdhoory’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 10 days, commencing after racing on Thursday January 2nd, 2025 and concluding after racing on Thursday January 16th, 2025.