Westport TC 6 March 2026 – R4 – Gemma Thornley

Following the running of Race 4, Junior Driver Gemma Thornley admitted a breach of Rule 868(3); namely that, when driving DIEDRE FRANCO, she “failed to drive her runner out to the end of the race when having a reasonable chance of finishing in 4th place.”

The Respondent was assisted at the hearing by Open Driver Mr Robbie Close.

Miss Thornley endorsed the Information, ‘I do admit a breach of the Rule.’ She confirmed to the Adjudicative Committee her understanding of the Rule and the nature of this charge, along with her admission of the breach.

Rule 868 provides as follows:

(3)     Every driver shall drive his or horse out to the end of the race if he or she has any reasonable chance of running first, second, third, fourth, or fifth.

EVIDENCE:

Mr Renault played the video of the final 100m of the race to identify Miss Thornley finishing widest on the track. He said Miss Thornley doesn’t carry a whip with this horse and has slapped the horse with the offside rein for most of the straight until reaching the 50m, where she has sat motionless until the winning post.

Miss Thornley said she must be careful driving this horse right out, but appreciates the perception of her not driving all the way to the winning post.

Mr Close said he believed DIEDRE FRANCO wasn’t making ground on the fourth horse over the last 50m, which was questionable, given the video evidence.

DECISION:

The Respondent having admitted the breach, the charge was deemed to be proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Renault said Miss Thornley had 56 drives this season, 309 in the previous and has a clear record. He said generally penalties for breaches of this Rule, coincide with the Penalty Guidelines.

Miss Thornley said she would like to defer any proposed penalty until after the Banks Peninsula TC Meeting on 15 March.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Penalty Guidelines provide a 3-day suspension for failing to drive out to the finish when having a reasonable chance of finishing 4th.

Mr Renault alluded to the penalties being structured to placings lost from 1st down to 5th and the Adjudicative Committee has no appetite to tinker with the Guidelines on this occasion.

Miss Thornley’s request for a deferment is granted, and a 3-day sanction is found to be appropriate.

CONCLUSION:

Junior Driver Gemma Thornley is suspended from the conclusion of racing on 15 March, up to and including racing on 22 March 2026.

Meetings encompassed in this suspension are 18 and 20 March at Addington and 22 March 2026 at Methven.