Harness Stewards Inquiry – TRICKY RIC NZ
On Friday, 17 December 2021 Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Stewards conducted an inquiry into a report from the RWWA Harness Racing Department regarding the Handicap Win Only Earnings (HWOE) as recorded in the National Harness Racing Database for TRICKY RIC NZ, since that gelding arrived from New Zealand and having competed in seven races in Western Australia from 29 June 2021 to 3 September 2021.
Evidence was taken from the trainer of TRICKY RIC NZ, Mr G Hall (Snr) who also acted for the owner, Mr S Waters.
It was established from the report that due to a clerical error, the stake money amount of $10,700 for its win at Alexandra Park (New Zealand) on 8 March 2019 was not updated into the National Harness Racing Database thereby making it ineligible for all its seven race starts in Western Australia, as follows:
- Gloucester Park 29 June 21-1/10 – Stake paid $4,484
- Pinjarra 5 July 21- 1/11 – Stake paid $4,484
- Gloucester Park 9 July 21 – 1/6 – Stake paid $10,881
- Pinjarra 26 July 21 – 2/10 – Stake paid $1,225
- Pinjarra 16 August 21 – 11/11 – Stake paid$100
- Gloucester Park 24 August 21 – 2/9 – Stake paid $1,225
- Gloucester Park 3 September 21 – 5/5 – Stake paid $504
Acting under the provisions of HR65, which reads:
If the Stewards find that a horse or a trainer or driver was ineligible to compete in a race they may disqualify the horse from the race or declare such horse a non-starter and make any consequent changes to the placings.
Stewards determined to disqualify TRICKY RIC NZ from each of its seven race starts in Western Australia with the placings being amended accordingly.
Subsequent to the action taken by the Stewards in disqualifying TRICKY RIC, RWWA have decided in all of the circumstances to allow the connections of the gelding to retain paid prizemoney to the amount of $22,900 and will make additional payments to the other connections.