Penalties for Driving Offences

HARNESS RACING SA PENALTIES FOR DRIVING OFFENCES

 Rule 163(1)(a,) Rule 163(1)(b) and Rule 168(1) (interference, force another horse wider, careless driving)

Starting Point

21 days                 Horse checked, tightened or jostled

28 days                 Horse checked and galloped

28 days                 Horse obliged to cover more ground than necessary

35 days                 Horse checked causing fall or driver dislodged.

*a premium of up to 21 days may be applied for cases where a driver is found to have displayed a high degree of carelessness or for first turn offences.

Discounts

1. Guilty plea -  7 day discount
2. Good driving record

300 drives or 18months since last suspension under these rules – 14 days discount

150 drives or 12 months since last suspension under these rules – 10 days discount

75 drives and no more than 2 suspensions in the last 12 months under these rules -  7 days discount

Example: Driver causes interference where another horse is checked and gallops.  Driver pleads guilty and had 2 suspensions under this rule in the past 12 months.  Starting point is 28 days minus 7 days for guilty plea, minus 7 days for driving record.  Results in a suspension of drivers licence for 14 days.  It must be noted that whilst discounts will be applied, no penalty will be reduced below 7 days.

Rule 149(1) and 149(2) (unacceptable drive, fail to give horse every opportunity)

Starting point                                                                                          - 12 week suspension

Discounts

1. Guilty Plea -                                                                                 - 2 weeks discount
2. Good driving record

1500 drives or not suspended under this rule for 4 years or first offence        - 4 weeks discount

750 drives or not suspended under this rule for 2 years                               - 2 weeks discount

300 drives or not suspended under this rule for 1 year                                 - 1 week discount

PENALTY GUIDELINES FOR FINES

PENALTY GUIDELINES FOR HORSES BREAKING GAIT (PACERS)

Starting offences

 Starting offences constitute score-up until approximately 100m after the start of the race.

• A horse in excess of 1 metre from the barrier arm is deemed to be out of position.

Example: A horse has had 12 lifetime starts and gallops in the score up resulting in it being out of positon at the start.  The horse is entitled to get the benefit of its good starting record and will be issued with a warning.    If the horse re-offends two starts later, it will be made ODM as it does not have 3 ‘clear’ starts.

Race offences

• Once a horse has completed 3 consecutive races without being intractable, it is assumed that the horse has a clear record. 
• Notwithstanding the above guidelines if stewards deem the performance of any horse unsatisfactory (gallops for a considerable distance, does not complete the event, gallops on more than one occasion) more severe action may be taken.

WHIP OFFENCES

The use of the whip in equine racing is a contentious issue and closely followed by welfare groups and the wider community.  It is essential that the harness industry self regulates and ensures that the use of the whip is well regulated and consistently policed by the stewards to protect the welfare of the racing animal.  Whip rules have changed significantly over a short period of time in an endeavour to reflect the wider community values and restrict and prohibit incorrect whip use.

A driver who uses his/her whip in any or all of the following would be in breach of the whip rules.

• Use of the whip excessively or in other words ‘too much’ and relates to the number of times and the force the whip is used.
• Striking an obviously beaten runner or a horse out of contention or past the winning post
• Use of the whip improperly – in a prodding or jabbing action
• Drawing the whip hand back further than level with their helmet
• Drawing the whip arm back beyond a 90 degree angle relative to the track
• Loose or loopy reins (referred to as loose reining)
• Use the whip in a ‘side’ action so as to be outside the confines of the sulky
• Use of the whip irrespective of whether the whip is striking the splash sheet or sulky shaft can still warrant a charge under the rules.

Rule 156(4)(d) explains the correct use of the whip – that is the whip is to be used in a flicking motion.  To this end, a general principle is if the driver can see the whip when being used it will conform to the rule however if the whip hand when being used goes out of eyeshot that driver is generally breaching the rule.  Drivers should endeavour to use only their wrist and elbow when applying the whip, as the use of the shoulder may result in the whip arm being drawn back past the 90 degree angle and the whip hand going back past their helmet.

Penalties

 ** The stewards have the discretion to issue substantive penalties for any blatant and severe breach of the whip rule irrespective of this penalty structure.