Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 Driver who punched horse fails to appeal 'pitiful' suspension www.odt.co.nz A harness-racing driver who was filmed punching a horse in the head during a race has unsuccessfully appealed his seven-day suspension. It’s a move animal rights activist are calling "pathetic" given how paltry they say the suspension was in the first place. "It’s just pathetic to appeal a seven-day sentence for punching a horse in the head," spokeswoman for Animal Save NZ, Summer Jane, said. "Seven days is simply not appropriate to send a message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable…and then for him to appeal it as well." Jane said that if there was a video of someone punching a dog or another "companion animal" then there would be public outrage. "Just because it was a horse competing in a race doesn’t make this any more acceptable," she said. Jane went on to say that the Racing Integrity Board’s decision focused primarily on the public perception of the incident as opposed to the animal abuse that had occurred on live television. Harness-racing driver Jonny Cox was filmed at the Rangiora Raceway in May punching horse Kiwi Hero multiple times during a race. Kiwi Hero was trailing Cox, who was driving his horse Just Michael, and Cox said that the other driver was getting too close to the point where there could have been a dangerous situation arising. He told the Racing Integrity Board at a hearing after the race that his actions were for his own safety and for the safety of the other drivers and that he’d called to the other driver to pull back without success. During the original hearing Cox showed three videos from three other races where a driver had reacted to a trailing horse following too closely and in none of those incidents had the rider been charged. However, counsel for the board at the original hearing said it was "improper" to strike a horse in the head area "particularly given Industry concerns as to matters of animal welfare and the Appellant’s actions were clearly visible on Trackside television to a wide audience. "It is the submission of the Respondent, that the actions of the Appellant on this occasion, amounted to a terrible look for Harness Racing." Cox was handed down a seven-day suspension but appealed it by way of a rehearing. During the rehearing the Board looked at the three videos Cox submitted as evidence of other drivers who had reacted to horses that had gotten too close and concluded they were "far less than what the appellant resorted to". "Not only that, but attitudes towards animal welfare have stiffened considerably over the last five years," the Board said in its decision released yesterday. "It is critical for the Industry to take, and be seen to take, stern measures where any issues of animal welfare arise, in order to maintain its current social licence to operate." The Board said it could not see any safety issues which could in any way justify the actions Cox took. "Perception is reality and it was a poor look for the Industry." "In the Appeals Tribunal’s view, it is never acceptable to strike a horse in the head region, whether in a race or not." The Board dismissed Cox’s appeal and imposed his seven-day penalty to begin. Cox did not respond to a request for comment. - Jeremy Wilkinson, Open Justice reporter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 Just now, Chief Stipe said: "Perception is reality and it was a poor look for the Industry." FFS RIB perception isn't reality! Maybe the RIB should get stable time. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 The RIB shouldn't be making any political comments in their judgements. It's essentially the same as a press release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paleface adios Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 24 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Maybe the RIB should get stable time. aint most of them failed drivers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 18 minutes ago, paleface adios said: aint most of them failed drivers Of these? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 (edited) Cant see much wrong with the article. Thats the world we live in. Media love being the moral police and we all know how 2 faced and hypocritical they are.Doesn't stop them though, so just a matter of limiting the public perception damage. Thats why theres a need for official censuring of behavior that in all reality is often harmless. The b Barclay drive of don't ask at invercargill last week sort of highlighted how fending off a horse with one hand can lead to a degree of loss of control. In his case the horse he was driving veered out a couple of horse widths while he did tried to sort of protect himself. Edited June 12, 2023 by the galah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 6 minutes ago, the galah said: Cant see much wrong with the article. Thats the world we live in. One point is that the RIB shouldn't feed them copy for their articles. As for the "that's the world we live in" - well I don't accept that a noisy minority dictate to me what I should or shouldn't do. Ignore them don't pander to them. Just get on with it. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 (edited) I know its a little off topic,but theres a nz government add on tv at the moment referring to elder abuse and it shows a picture of horse racing,the only form of gambling it shows,inferring that its associated with bad things. Why does the racing industry continue to allow itself to be painted in such a negative light. It was the same when they had the problem gambling add on tv not that long ago with the race broadcasts in the background. Why do government agencies continue to feature horse racing when it comes to problem gambling,when we all know the stats say there are other far more significant contributors to problem gambling that these adds never feature. Its a sign of weakness that we have people who run our industry and allow it to be continually painted in an unfair way. Edited June 12, 2023 by the galah 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 12, 2023 Author Share Posted June 12, 2023 4 minutes ago, the galah said: I know its a little off topic,but theres a nz government add on tv at the moment referring to elder abuse and it shows a picture of horse racing,the only form of gambling it shows,inferring that its associated with bad things. Why does the racing industry continue to allow itself to be painted in such a negative light. It was the same when they had the problem gambling add on tv not that long ago with the race broadcasts in the background. Why do government agencies continue to feature horse racing when it comes to problem gambling,when we all know the stats say there are other far more significant contributors to problem gambling that these adds never feature. Its a sign of weakness that we have people who run our industry and allow it to be continually painted in an unfair way. Agree 100%. Perhaps some aggressive marketing would help. For example how much is the gross yield of LOTTO? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the galah Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Agree 100%. Perhaps some aggressive marketing would help. For example how much is the gross yield of LOTTO? The problem gambling they say is mainly from things that can be reinvested in pretty quickly. Like casinos,scratchies,horse and sports betting and of course the big one,the gaming machines,especially the fast growing on line gaming. I agree that horse racing need to be pro active on this subject.Why let government agencies and advertising agencies unfairly put the boot in. I read a couple of years ago that racing accounted for about 11 % of problem gambling and it was reducing all the time. Yet it gest about 75% of the blame when it comes to tv adds. Also what about government policies. They said when the lock downs were in place the average weekly spend on on line gaming went up 50%. Edited June 12, 2023 by the galah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted June 12, 2023 Share Posted June 12, 2023 8 hours ago, the galah said: Why do government agencies continue to feature horse racing when it comes to problem gambling,when we all know the stats say there are other far more significant contributors to problem gambling that these adds never feature. It goes worse down Casino, Gaming, TAB, Lotteries Commission. NZTR, HRNZ and GRNZ do nothing to counteract mainstream media articles which are only ever negative. As an example Wiremu Pinn's immediate Australian should be highlighted showing where a career in racing can take you. We live in such a minority driven country where every minority group has the right to rule. Any mention in writing and a ton of bricks will be cast upon me describing me racist, sexist, ageist, discriminative etc etc. Now the Green Party want to bring in a wealth tax which apparently is going to fix child poverty, affordable housing, climate change and create world peace. Animal activists are still protesting. They've had little traction and you'd think might be on the cusp of giving up when the RIB is quoted backing these do gooders actions. Members of the RIB are paid by the industry to keep law and order in the industry, not kowtow to those nobodies outside of it. Another ridiculous situation brought on by those within. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brodie Posted June 13, 2023 Share Posted June 13, 2023 This Summer Jane who commented for A so-called Animal Rights group, clearly doesnt realise that this 7 Days is actually 7 RACING DAYS so longer than she thinks!!! Of course it wasnt a great look but I doubt Jonny Cox even connected with the trailing horse!! Yes Harness Racing is its own worst enemy and somehow RIB want to continue to paint harness racing in a bad light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 13, 2023 Author Share Posted June 13, 2023 On 13/06/2023 at 1:31 AM, Special Agent said: Animal activists are still protesting. They've had little traction and you'd think might be on the cusp of giving up when the RIB is quoted backing these do gooders actions. Members of the RIB are paid by the industry to keep law and order in the industry, not kowtow to those nobodies outside of it. Another ridiculous situation brought on by those within. Correct and judicial decisions should be based on the rules not assumed minority perceptions. RIB are not the moral police of the industry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robalan Posted June 13, 2023 Share Posted June 13, 2023 If you punch a horse in the head, the horse will feel nothing and you will have a very sore hand 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 21 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: RIB are not the moral police of the industry. They have become very involved with animal welfare issues and take action at times akin to the SPCA i.e. uplifting horses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 2 hours ago, Special Agent said: They have become very involved with animal welfare issues and take action at times akin to the SPCA i.e. uplifting horses. Shouldn't that be a NZTR or HRNZ job if it is necessary? Excuse me for thinking the RIB is out of control. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 15 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Excuse me for thinking the RIB is out of control. You won't get any argument from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 9 hours ago, Special Agent said: They have become very involved with animal welfare issues and take action at times akin to the SPCA i.e. uplifting horses. Did you hear anything more about the Kaikoura bloke ? Had a lot of horses running loose in the bush and some were put down eventually due to poor condition ?? Murray Boyd was charged. Aussie trainers no better either. Often trainers or owners with Big properties just let them run loose in the bush to fend for themselves for a length of time . I've seen it at 3 places I know of. Just part of the parcel sometimes. The Oz equivalent of SPCA ( the RSPCA) has investigated Australia's 'leading' Trainer Ben Yole at least 10 times on welfare issues. and this is for horses that are actually racing. But he was passed fit to train as horses , even though without nice shelter options in Tassie, were rugged and fed enough to satisfy humane requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special Agent Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 It is very expensive to feed horses, especially over winter, and it would not be unusual for some to lighten off in colder weather. SPCA investigate a number of complaints but, there may not be many prosecutions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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