The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) appeal committee in Mauritius has overturned an eight-week suspension and a Rs50,000 fine (about US$1,057) given to South African jockey Grant Van Niekerk, a report on the ruling says.
The committee found that neither of the two charges over his ride on Bounceback was proven. The decision was two to one.
Van Niekerk faced two charges under Rule 414(b) of the Rules of Racing. The first said he did not bring Bounceback closer to the leaders soon after the start. The second said he did not ride the horse with his usual effort from the 700m mark.
The majority was made up of assessors Gilles Étienne and Dr Abdullah Atchia. On the first charge, they found that Bounceback had a poor start and was hampered by another horse, Lets Play Poker. They said this made it hard to get closer to the leaders. They also said the jockey settled the horse as the trainer, Jevin Awotar, had told him.
The majority said the ride was what a good jockey could be expected to give a horse that likes to come from behind and finish fast.
On the second charge, they found that the timing data did not show the race slowed between the 1,000m and 600m marks. They also questioned comparing times from different 1,600m races. Each race, they said, should be judged on its own facts.
Committee chairperson Ravi Bhookhun did not agree on the first charge. He said the stewards were entitled to punish the jockey for it. But he agreed the timing method used for the second charge was unsafe. He said a lighter penalty of three racing days' suspension and a Rs50,000 fine would have been better.
Bounceback finished third in the 1,600m race, more than four lengths behind the winner, Brave Bomber. The winner ran 1:37.08.
The appeal looked closely at the timing data from the Horse Racing Integrity Division (HRID). At the hearing, the GRA's representative said the stewards could rely on the HRID timekeeper. The defence challenged how the race data and the jockey's instructions were read.
