Winton HRC 22 March 2025 – R8 – Brad Williamson

BACKGROUND

Following the running of Race 8, Open Driver Brad Williamson admitted a breach of Rule 869(2), which concerns whip use. The particulars of the charge were that, when driving TABASCO, he used his whip with more than a wrist flicking motion near the 1200 metre mark.

Rule 869 provides that:

(2) No driver shall during any race use a whip in a manner in contravention of the Whip and Rein Regulations made by the Board.

The Whip and Rein Regulations, in part, provide as follows:

3.1 A driver may only apply the whip in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.

3.2 For the purposes of clause 3.1, “wrist only flicking motion” means:

3.2.1 Ensuring no force is generated by the use of the elbow or shoulder when applying the whip.

At the start of the hearing, Mr Williamson confirmed his admission of the breach and that he understood the relevant Rule and Regulations.

EVIDENCE

Mr Munro, with the assistance of Mr Williams, used the available race videos to identify Mr Williamson moving TABASCO into the one-off line and attempting to improve from the 1400 metre mark. Mr Williamson used the whip to urge his horse forward. Two initial whip strikes were compliant, Stewards submitted.

However, it was further submitted that six subsequent whip strikes near the 1200 metre mark, were delivered with more than a wrist flicking motion and were therefore in breach of the Whip Rule and the Whip and Rein Regulations. The Respondent’s use of the whip after these six strikes was compliant, according to Stewards.

Mr Munro said the six strikes in breach occurred over a distance of some 50 metres. They were “short, sharp (and) on a bend.”

As the Trainer, Mr Williamson said he knew TABASCO’s characteristics. The horse tended to be lazy and laid-back and was racing lethargically when asked to improve his position. Frustration had crept in because the horse wasn’t giving his best effort, he said. Mr Williamson admitted he had tried too hard to make him go forward.

Mr Williamson accepted the Stewards’ count of six whip strikes being in breach of the Rule.

DECISION

As Mr Williamson has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS

Stewards produced the Respondent’s record, which showed that Mr Williamson had had 92 drives this season and 273 the last. His lifetime drives stood at 4698.

Mr Williamson had been fined $250 for a breach of the Whip Rule on 2 February 2025 (or 52 drives prior to this Winton meeting). This was therefore a second breach. Stewards assessed it to be low level, Mr Munro said.

In these circumstances, the RIB Penalty Guide provided a starting point of 3-day suspension. Mr Williamson regularly drove in Canterbury, as well as Otago-Southland, Mr Munro said.

Mr Williamson submitted that prior to his breach of the Rule in February, he had gone a long period without transgressing. He requested a deferment of any suspension to allow him to drive at the Wyndham meeting on 30 March 2025.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

The breach is low level. Mr Williamson has used his whip in breach of the Whip Rule and the Whip and Rein Regulations for a short distance near the 1200 metre mark, and has used a compliant style thereafter.

The RIB Penalty Guide defines a mid-level whip breach as using “the old whipping style for approximately 50 metres or more before returning to a compliant style.” The Respondent, on this occasion, is on the bubble. The Adjudicative Committee notes the location and degree of the whip use in breach, and finds, by a slight margin, that a low level grading is appropriate.

The RIB Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a 3-day suspension for a second breach of the Rule that is found to be low level.

There are no aggravating factors and the Adjudicative Committee is of the view that the clear evidence of the six whip strikes delivered with more than a wrist flicking motion, made Mr Williamson’s admission of the breach an inevitability. There is no reason to depart from the Penalty Guide.

CONCLUSION

The Respondent’s request for a deferment is granted. Driver Brad Williamson is suspended for 3 days, from the conclusion of racing on 30 March 2025, up to and including racing on 4 April 2025. The meetings affected by the period of suspension are: Timaru HRC (2 April), Invercargill HRC (3 April) and NZ Metropolitan TC (4 April).