Wairarapa HRC 2 January 2021 - R 5 (instigating a protest) - Chair, Mr N McCutcheon

Following the running of Race 5, (Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup), Information A13629 was filed with the Judicial Committee. It was alleged that J BEE had galloped over the line and had been lapped on.

Ms C Wigg had signed the Information form and said that she did not admit the breach.

The Judge’s Placings were:

1st - No. 5 BROOKIES JAFFA
2nd - No.10 FRANKIE JONES
3rd - No. 6 THE KAPITI EXPRESS
4th - No. 11 J BEE
5th - No. 2 PORT DELIGHT
6th - No. 1 TICKING OVER

The films were shown and Mr Williams, the Informant said that J BEE had paced roughly near the 100m, then galloped over the final 4 strides and was lapped on by two runners.

Ms Wigg and Mr Delaney said that the horse had paced roughly but that it had not galloped. Mr Delaney said that it was not a full blown gallop.

The Committee invited Mr Coppins, Stipendiary Steward for his opinion on the matter as he had been a Driver of Harness horses. Mr Coppins said that J BEE had galloped short of the line. He invited the Committee to note the horse’s head. He said that when it was pacing, its head had a smooth action and that when it galloped, its head was bobbing up and down which is consistent with a galloping action.

The Committee after considering the submissions and viewing of all the film replays, was comfortably satisfied that J BEE had broken from its pacing gait and galloped for the final 4 strides. J BEE was lapped on by PORT DELIGHT and TICKING OVER.

The protest was upheld with placings then reading:

1st - No. 5 BROOKIES JAFFA
2nd - No.10 FRANKIE JONES
3rd - No. 6 THE KAPITI EXPRESS
4th - No. 2 PORT DELIGHT
5th - No. 1 TICKING OVER
6th - No. 11 J BEE

Authorisation was given for payment of dividends and prize-money on the amended placings.