April 14, 2011
The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board today considered a matter in regards to multiple charges issued by HRV Stewards against licensed driver Daryl Douglas following Mr Douglas urinating on the race track prior to the running of race one, the SEW-Eurodrive 2YO Pacers Handicap at the Kilmore harness meeting conducted on Wednesday 23 February 2011.
A total of three charges were issued against Mr Douglas. Mr Douglas was charged with a breach of Australian Rule of Harness Racing (ARHR) 238 which reads as follows:
A person shall not fail to comply with any order, direction or requirement of the Controlling Body or the stewards relating to harness racing or to the harness racing industry.
Following an inquiry at the Tabcorp Park Melton harness meeting on Friday night 7 January 2011 where Mr Douglas left the racetrack via a gate in the back straight to go to the toilet, Mr Douglas was advised that in a similar situation he must first speak with the Starter. It was alleged at the Kilmore harness meeting on Wednesday 23 February 2011, Mr Douglas failed to comply with a requirement of the Stewards by failing to ask or advise the Starter that he needed to go to the toilet and simply dismounted from the Sulky before urinating on the racetrack. The HRV RAD Board dismissed this charge.
Mr Douglas was further charged under ARHR 231(2) which reads as follows:
A person shall not misconduct himself in any way.
It was alleged Mr Douglas misconducted himself by urinating on the racetrack. The HRV RAD Board made no finding in relation to this charge.
A third charge issued against Mr Douglas was for an alleged breach of ARHR 243 which reads as follows:
A person employed, engaged or participating in the harness racing industry shall not behave in a way which is prejudicial or detrimental to the industry.
It was alleged Mr Douglas’ actions in urinating on the racetrack were prejudicial and detrimental to the image of the harness racing industry.
Mr Douglas was found guilty of this charge and fined $2000. The HRV RAD Board further imposed a suspension of Mr Douglas’ drivers licence for a period of two weeks and ordered this suspension be fully suspended for a period of six months.
