Wanganui JC 30 April 2022 – R2 – Mereana Hudson

ID: RIB8746

Respondent(s):
Mereana Hudson - Jockey

Applicant:
N Goodwin Stipendiary Steward

Adjudicators:
N Moffatt

Persons Present:
Ms Hudson, Mr N Goodwin, Mrs L Selvakumaran

Information Number:
A14533

Decision Type:
Race Related Charge

Charge:
careless riding

Rule(s):
638(1)(d) - Riding/driving infringement - Careless riding

Plea:
Admitted

Animal Name:
MEGLIO DI FALCREST

Code:
Thoroughbred

Race Date:
30/04/2022

Race Club:
Wanganui Jockey Club

Race Location:
Wanganui Racecourse - 19 Purnell Street, Whanganui, 4500

Race Number:
R2

Hearing Date:
30/04/2022

Hearing Location:
Wanganui Racecourse

Outcome: Proved

Penalty: Jockey Mereana Hudson suspended for 5 days

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 2, the Respondent Ms M Hudson admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).  The Information alleged that Ms Hudson permitted her mount MEGLIO DI FALCREST to shift inwards when insufficiently clear of KAPINOS and BOLD MAC which were crowded and steadied near the 1000m.

Ms Hudson acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her 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 Goodwin said that approaching the first bend, Ms Hudson was racing out wide and looking for a position closer to the rail. Meanwhile Mr Parkes was in a tight spot to the inside of KAPINOS with another runner beside him on the rail. As a result of Ms Hudson’s inward movement, when not clear of KAPINOS, Mr Parkes  (BOLD MAC) was squeezed out losing 2 lengths as a result.

Ms Hudson had nothing to say in response.

Decision:

As Ms Hudson admitted the breach the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved

Submission for Penalty:

Mr Goodwin produced Ms Hudson’s riding record which indicated 2 previous beaches of the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months, namely:

24/2/22 Wanganui 6 days

09/09/21 Woodville 5 days

Ms Hudson has had 251 race day rides in the past 12 months.

Mr Goodwin said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the low to midrange and said that Ms Hudson very rarely bothers the Stewards.

Ms Hudson said she had no riding commitments within the next week and any suspension could therefore start immediately.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering all submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined Ms Hudson’s carelessness to be slightly above low range and adopted a 6 day suspension as the starting point. This conforms with the NZTR Penalty Guide (as of 1 March 2022).

The Respondent’s riding record is treated as a neutral factor and a 1-day reduction was applied to the 6-day starting point for her admission of the breach.

After consideration of the above factors a 5-day suspension was imposed.

Conclusion:

Ms Hudson’s licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5 days, commencing after racing today, Saturday April 30th and concluding after racing on Saturday May 7th 2022.

Decision Date: 30/04/2022

Publish Date: 02/05/2022