Whangarei RC 3 September 2025 – R4 – Eamonn Green

Following the running of Race 4, an Information was filed by Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr A Dooley, against Class B Trainer Mr E Green, alleging that Mr Green misconducted himself by striking PATSY’S DREAM with his lead rope prior to the race.

Mr Green had signed the Information “I do not admit a beach of the rule” and he confirmed his plea at the hearing.

Rule 800 provides as follows:

A Licensed Person, Owner, lessee, Racing Manager, Official or other person bound by these Rules must not misconduct themself in any matter relating to the conduct of Races or racing.

EVIDENCE:

Neither Mr Green nor the Stewards wished to call any witnesses; they both considered the video film was sufficient evidence.

Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr A Dooley, showed a video replay of PATSY’S DREAM, as the horse entered onto the race course from the saddling area, for its preliminary prior to the start of the race.

The video showed PATSY’S DREAM proved to be difficult in negotiating it’s way through the gate onto the track and Mr Green had used his hand on the horse’s rump to encourage it through the gate onto the track. PATSY’S DREAM, once through the gate, backed up and refused to go forward down to the start.

Mr Green tried to encourage the horse and he then used the lead rope to strike the horse twice on its rump.

Mr Dooley said that it was clear on the video what had happened. Mr Green had reacted in frustration and struck the horse to make it go forward and his actions were inappropriate.

Mr Green considered he had only “tapped the horse” and asked “what else could he have done to make it go forward?”

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The video evidence is clear.  It shows Mr Green having difficulty to getting PATSY’S DREAM out onto the track and once on the track, the horse backed up and refused to go forward. Mr Green in frustration, used the lead rope to rap PATSY’S DREAM on its rump, to make it move forward.

The strikes were not harsh, but they were much more than the tap Mr Green alleged and were inappropriate.

DECISION:

The Charge is therefore considered to be proven.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Dooley referred the Adjudicative Committee to a number of misconduct breaches. The most recent and relevant being Ms C Barnes, who hit her horse with her whip on the stomach, after it dislodged her. Ms Barnes was fined $500 and Mr Dooley considered a fine of this level to be appropriate. He noted that Mr Green had a clear record over a long period of involvement in the industry.

Mr Green in mitigation, said that he had been involved in the industry for 60 years and this breach was his first under the Misconduct Rule. He maintained that in his view, he had done nothing wrong and had only tapped the horse.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Green’s actions, while they were not harsh, were inappropriate and violates the core principles of animal welfare. Furthermore, such action is damaging to the integrity of racing, and the public’s trust in racing’s commitment to horse welfare.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide does not provide a starting point for a breach of the Misconduct Rule, but simply states that it is “fact dependent”. The Adjudicative Committee adopted a starting point for the present breach of a fine of $500, being the fine imposed in the case of Ms Barnes.

The Adjudicative Committee also noted the misconduct charge for Jason Zuppicich (Starter’s Assistant) at New Plymouth on 27 December 2024 – horse reluctant to enter the stalls – slapped it with his hand and kicked it in the stomach – fined $300. This was an admitted charge and Mr Zuppicich was very remorseful.

The strikes in this case were to the rump area and were not harsh. As Mr Green defended the charge, there is no discount for an admitted breach. The Adjudicative Committee however, determined that the breach was, arguably, less serious than in the Barnes case, where the horse was struck with a whip on the stomach and Mr Green has a clear record under this Rule. For this reason, the Adjudicative Committee applied a discount of $100 from the $500 starting point.

It is recorded that Mr Green made no apology for his actions and showed no remorse. The Adjudicative Committee might otherwise have given further credit, had he done so.

CONCLUSION:

Class B Trainer Mr E Green is fined $400.