Otaki-Maori RC - 27 June 2010 - R 2

RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION (Request for a Ruling)

Informant:  Mr N Goodwin Stipendiary Steward

Defendant: Mr G Swann

Information No:  40422

Meeting:  Otaki-Maori Racing Club

Date:  27 June 2010

Venue:  Otaki

Race:  2

Rule No:  331(2)

Judicial Committee:  Tom Castles, Chairman – Paul Williams, Committee Member 

Facts:

Mr. G. Swann failed to weigh in after Race 2 which resulted in Whosmemum being disqualified.  Stipendiary Steward Goodwin asked for a ruling under Rule 331 (2) on the situation of the riding fee. 

Rule 331 (2) reads – where a horse is disqualified from a race by reason of the fault or

misconduct of the rider, the applicable riding fee shall not be payable provided however that if

the Judicial Committee is satisfied the disqualification is due to inexperience or inadvertence it

may direct the rider be paid the applicable fee.

Submissions:

Mr. Goodwin informed the committee that Swann went straight into the jockeys’ room after race 2 then appeared in the weigh room to weigh in.  It is the first responsibility of the jockey to weigh in before entering the jockeys’ room.  Mr. Swann's mount finished at the tail of the field. 

Mr. Swann again apologised for his mistake and indicated he believed that his riding fee should be forfeited.

Decision:

The committee instructed his riding fee be forfeited.

Reasons:

The rule the committee believes indicates quite clearly that in the advent of a riders fault the riding fee shall not be payable.  Mr. Swann informed the committee that he was at fault; he should have weighed in immediately upon dismounting.

Tom Castles                             Paul Williams

Chairman                                 Committee Member

40422