Racing Integrity Board suspends several riders for careless riding in New Zealand

The Racing Integrity Board published adjudications between March 1 and March 7, 2026 that resulted in short-term suspensions or national riding-day penalties for a number of riders after findings of careless riding, a move that activates NZTR-aligned starting points of 5, 7 and 10 days for low, mid and high-range careless riding breaches. The rulings sit alongside the NZTR Directive dated 30 May 2022 and a heavier-week schedule for more serious breaches.

RIB and NZTR rules cited in the adjudications include Rule 638 subsections: 638(1)(d) for careless riding with low-range, mid-range and high-range starting points of 5, 7 and 10 days respectively; 638(1)(b) reckless riding, starting point 6-week suspension; 638(1)(b) reckless riding causing a fall, updated to an 8-week suspension as a New Update to reflect seriousness; 638(1)(c) improper riding, 6-week suspension; 638(1)(d) careless riding causing a fall, 4-week suspension; and 638(1)(e) incompetent riding, 4-week suspension. The Racing Integrity Board material repeats that when considering a penalty for careless riding, a rider’s record over the preceding 12 months will be taken into account.

Whip-use rules and fines featured prominently in the RIB material and sister guidance on Loveracing.nz. For consecutive strikes, the guidance lists 2 consecutive strikes as a warning; 3 consecutive strikes carry escalating penalties, with first offences running the greater of a $150 fine or 50% of the jockey share of stake, second offences the greater of $300 or 50% of the jockey share, and third offences the greater of $500 or 50% of the jockey share. For 4 to 5 consecutive strikes the supplied fragments list first offence as the greater of $400 or 50% of jockey share and second offence as the greater of $500 or 50% of jockey share. For breaches of Rule 638(3)(g)(i), using the whip more than 5 times prior to the 100 m mark, the RIB fragments reproduce a table showing outcomes ranging from warnings to dollar fines of $250 and $500 and suspensions of 5 national days for multiple additional strikes, with later repetitions triggering suspension increases.

Economic consequences are explicit in the sources: fines may be added as a percentage of the jockey’s share of stake earned in Black-type races, Prestige Jumping races or major races, and Loveracing.nz and RIB both note concessions may be considered for Apprentice Jockeys. Deferment rules in Loveracing.nz state that if a rider is engaged to ride within seven days of a suspension being imposed, Rule 1106(2)(b) or Rule 1106(3)(b) applies, with special provisions if engagements fall on the eighth, ninth or tenth day after imposition. Resetting provisions are also explicit: whip offences are disregarded for penalty purposes after six months without repeat, and careless riding offences after 12 months without repeat.

The RIB adjudications land against prior NZTR welfare enforcement: NZTR suspended licences of individuals charged in an August 09, 2024 matter pending the Adjudicative Committee process, and NZTR stated it is working with the RIB on wellbeing and welfare services. NZTR Chief Executive Bruce Sharrock said, "New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing thoroughly condemn the mistreatment of horses and are committed to the welfare of the horse and maintaining the highest welfare standards." The March 1–7 adjudication notices supplied in the material do not name riders or list individual case particulars.

These rulings and the documented 5/7/10 starting points, plus the 6- and 8-week updates for reckless conduct, carry direct income and operational implications: suspended national riding days remove immediate mounts, percentage-of-stake fines hit pay packets in Black-type races, and apprentice concessions will be watched closely. With the RIB signaling tougher penalties and a clear whip-use escalation ladder, trainers, jockeys and owners will feel the financial ripple through upcoming meetings as regulators push to reduce careless and reckless riding; the full impact will be clearer when the full March 1–7 adjudication notices list named riders and precise penalties.