Brosnan’s penalty cut

Press, 3 February 1982, Page 21

Brosnan’s penalty cut

The Kerrytown trainer, Richard Brosnan, will be able to drive Bonnie’s Chance in the $120,000 Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park on February 12. Brosnan is now suspended until after February 6. The original decision to suspend him until after February 20 had been reviewed by the emergency committee acting as a sub-committee of the executive of the Trotting Conference at a hearing in Christchurch on Monday. The decision was released yesterday. Brosnan was found guilty of interference on two counts in the Humphrey Handicap

run at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on January 23. His horseman’s licence was suspended until after February 6 on one count and on the other from February 6 until after February 20. Brosnan lodged an appeal, but the emergency committee found that this had not been done within the prescribed time and it was decided that the hearing would be by way of a review of penalty. After viewing the videotapes of the incidents, the committee found that interference took place on both occasions.

However, it was felt that there was a doubt whether the separate penalties were ordered to be run concurrently or cumulatively. The committee decided that the sentences should run concurrently and ordered that Brosnan’s suspension should cease after February 6. He was ordered to pay $250 towards the costs of the hearing. The committee comprised Sir James Barnes (chairman), Mr C. R. Elliott, Mr G. D. Kelly and Mr B. B. Woods. Brosnan was represented by Mr B. J. Scott and Mr B. McClelland appeared for the conference.