The Stewards late yesterday afternoon opened an inquiry into a report provided by the Club’s Security and Integrity Department relative to an interview conducted by them at the direction of the Chief Stipendiary Steward with licensed Club Jockey N Rawiller earlier that day. The Stewards interviewed N Rawiller in respect of this matter. Evidence was also taken from Security personnel. This inquiry was adjourned last night and reconvened this morning.
At today’s hearing, N Rawiller was charged with having breached Rule of Racing 59 (2) and (3).
Rule of Racing 59 (2) states:-
“No jockey shall:-
Accept or agree to any pecuniary or other gift or other consideration in connection with any race in which he rides or is to ride except from the nominator of the horse he rides or is to ride in such race without the consent of such nominator.”
The particulars of this charge being that whilst licensed as a Jockey by The Hong Kong Jockey Club he did, on two occasions, accept pecuniary or other gifts or other considerations for providing tips in respect of horses he rode.
Rule of Racing 59 (3) states:-
“No jockey shall:-
Bet or facilitate the making of a bet or have any interest in a bet on any race or any contingency relating to a race meeting.”
The particulars of this charge being that on diverse occasions whilst licensed as a Jockey by The Hong Kong Jockey Club he did have an interest in bets on horses which he rode at race meetings conducted by the Club, such bets being facilitated by people known to him.
N Rawiller informed the Stewards that he did not wish to enter a plea to the charges. The Stewards therefore proceeded on the basis of a not-guilty plea being entered by N Rawiller and he was asked to present a defence to the charges.
After having considered all of the evidence tendered at the inquiry, which included admissions made by N Rawiller, the Stewards believed that the charges as issued of having breached Rule 59 (2) and (3) should be sustained and accordingly N Rawiller was found guilty of both charges.
In deciding the matter of penalty in respect of the two charges, the Stewards took into consideration that it is fundamental to the integrity of racing that Jockeys are not permitted to bet or to have an interest in a bet and that the provision of tips by licensed Jockeys and any resultant pecuniary or other gifts or other considerations being provided to a Jockey by other than the owner(s) of a horse is strictly prohibited. In mitigation, the Stewards also took into consideration, amongst other relevant matters, that N Rawiller had at all times co-operated fully with the interview and inquiry and that he had been forthright in his evidence.
In the circumstances, the Stewards determined that the appropriate penalty for breaching Rule 59 (2) was a period of disqualification from racing for fifteen (15) months. The Stewards also determined that the appropriate penalty for breaching Rule 59 (3) was a period of disqualification from racing for fifteen (15) months. The Stewards ruled that the two periods of disqualification be served concurrently and that the commencement of each period of disqualification is with immediate effect. N Rawiller is therefore disqualified for a total period of fifteen (15) months to expire on 25 July 2019.
There was no evidence before the Stewards that N Rawiller had ridden any horse in Hong Kong with the intention other than to obtain the best possible placing for the horse. Further, the evidence before the Stewards was that N Rawiller had only tipped horses ridden by him and never horses he had ridden against.
