Southland driver Brent Shirley has been suspended from driving until December 1 for improper driving at Ascot Park in January this year.
Shirley defended the charge at a hearing in Dunedin in May, but was found guilty of improper driving when he steered Little Einstein on to Supersub at the Invercargill Cup meeting at Ascot Park on January 26.
The stays on the sulkies behind both horses locked together, and stayed locked for 500m as both Little Einstein and Supersub - who was favourite - began drifting back, affecting Its Ollies Excuse, which was trailing Supersub.
The Judicial Control Authority, which released a decision last month and a decision on penalties on Friday, found Shirley's actions to be deliberate and cynical, and considered his actions to be at the top end of the scale in regards to penalty.
The committee, made up of chairman Geoff Hall and Stewart Ching, set the penalty at 54 drives. Shirley averaged three drives a meeting, so the suspension covers 18 meetings in Otago and Southland.
Shirley's first driving opportunity after the suspension will be at the Gore Harness Racing Club meeting on December 3.
Shirley was also ordered to pay $5000 in costs, split between the Racing Integrity Unit ($3900) and the JCA ($1100).
