Hong Kong jockeys this season may be looking at even more serious penalties for careless riding charges, with a review by the stewards currently under way.
The system of penalties changed eight years ago from suspensions to a combination of 2-day suspensions plus fines from $HK10,000 to $HK40,000 per day, based on a jockey’s average daily earnings, in lieu of additional suspended days.
In part, the system was implemented to shorten time on the sidelines for club-retained jockeys – first, to ensure sufficient riders available for race meeting and also as many of the sidelines riders were electing to take overseas breaks when suspended for three days or more, rather than ride trackwork.
The financial penalties were originally designed to increase with each additional offence, although that aspect has not been rigidly applied in recent seasons.
That system worked well enough for a while but has not helped to keep down careless riding charges, which have been creeping up again and numbered 95 in 2011-12 and 91 incidents last season – a considerable rise on the 55 listed in 2004-05 when the changes were made.
Chief stipe Kim Kelly has already flagged in the media that there will be more severe penalties for careless riding in the coming term, but the details have yet to be outlined and will be presented to the regular pre-season meeting between officials and jockeys.
Hong Kong-bound South African rider, Karis Teetan looks like he will be arriving in peak form next month for his first Sha Tin season, after producing a brilliant race at Greyville on the weekend to steal a Listed race, The Darley Arabian, on Distinguished.
Greyville’s feature, the G1 Gold Cup, was won by Jeffe’s Reef under Robbie Fradd, the last man to beat Douglas Whyte in a championship in 1999-2000.
By Nathan Mody
