Harness Stewards Inquiry – Reinsperson Mr Kyle Harper
RWWA Stewards yesterday concluded the adjourned inquiry into the driving of MANOFTHEPEOPLE (K Harper) following the running of Race 6 – The SONG SUNG BLUE PACE (2150SS) at Northam on Saturday 29th August 2020.
After taking evidence and viewing various angles of the race patrol vision following the race, the inquiry was adjourned by Stewards to review the past performances of MANOFTHEPEOPLE and to further analyse wagering activities on the race. The subsequent review of all betting data did not reveal any areas of concern.
Mr Harper was found guilty of a charge under rule 149(1) which states;
(1) A driver shall take all reasonable and permissible measures during the course of a race to ensure that the horse driven by that driver is given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing in the field.
The particulars of the charge being;
When driving MANOFTHEPEOPLE and trailing TOTO PICASSO (M Grantham), approaching the home turn on the final occasion, he failed to shift the gelding wider on the track in order to obtain clear running when it was reasonable and permissible for him to do so resulting in MANOFTHEPEOPLE not being fully tested over the final 100 metres and consequently MANOFTHEPEOPLE was not given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing in the field.
Mr Harper’s Reinsperson’s Licence to drive in races was subsequently suspended for a period of six weeks commencing at midnight on Monday, 28 September 2020 and to expire at midnight on Monday, 9 November 2020.
When considering penalty, the following factors were taken into account;
• The principles and nature of the rule that had been breached, in particular that the offence was not one of higher seriousness relating to a horse not being driven on its merits.
• Prior penalties issued under this rule
• His prior good record
• His personal circumstances
• The absence of any betting irregularities from the data available to the Stewards or other evidence that would aggravate the offending.