Gavin Smith: What were you thinking?

[Happy Sunrise]

Previously mentioned but came across the video. lucky the animal activists didn't catch wind of it as it is a bloody poor look. $750 is a light fine in my book.

It is at 3.32 in the video link below.

Driver G Smith (BRONX VILLAGE) was fined $750 by the JCA after admitting a breach of Rule 869(2) for using his whip to strike another runner (REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY) near the 200 metres during Race 12 at the North Canterbury TOA meeting on 9 May 2018.

https://harness.hrnz.co.nz/gws/ws/r/infohorsews/wsd06x?Arg=hrnzg-Ptype&Arg=RaceVideo&Arg=hrnzg-RacehdrID&Arg=253804

 

[Happy Sunrise]

I still think this is really bad form. So blatant. 

Even though no one cares!! ?

[Newmarket]

Not a good look, but I thought his explanation was fair enough. 

[Happy Sunrise]

Maybe. At least he admitted it. I shouldn't be so harsh consider it was a simple brain explosion.

I do like his training and driving so maybe I am a little disappointed he did this. Talented.

Mr Renault stated that this was a deliberate action by Mr Smith who looked to his outside, saw his other horse there, drew the whip and struck the horse. Mr Smith, on the day, stated to Mr Renault, that he didn’t think his driver was hitting the horse or urging it on enough over the concluding stages. Mr Renault submitted that this was a safety issue as Mr Smith could not know what reaction the horse would take after being struck on the inside. He also stated that the Stewards take a dim view of Mr Smith’s actions and believe they are totally unacceptable. Mr Renault in answer to a question from the Committee, stated that Ms Diamant had informed him that the whip had struck the horse on the backside. Mr Renault said that even though it was only one strike, the perception to the betting public, was poor.

Submissions of Respondent

[11] Mr Smith stated that it was a “moment of stupidity”. He said that he owned REVERSE PYSCHOLOGY, that he was a “bludger” and hadn’t been anywhere in the past year. Mr Smith said that as he owns REVERSE PYSCHOLOGY and as he had a paying clients horse in the race, he had decided to drive BRONX VILLAGE.

[12] Mr Smith said that he had told Ms Diamant that she would have to be tough on the horse, as he was a bludger. He said that he could see he was going well when he raced up beside him but straight away “knocked off”. Ms Diamant was only giving the horse little flicks, he said, and he had yelled to her to “get up him”. Mr Smith said Ms Diamant continued on with the little flicks and without thinking he reached around and struck the horse. He did not even think about it being a trials day and that it was a spur of the moment, a stupid thing to do. He also said that as soon as he had done it, could not believe how stupid he had been. He also said it was a bad look, a dumb thing to do, and still doesn’t know why he let it happen.