The Stewards today concluded their inquiry into Y T Cheng’s handling of MASTER GOLD in the Sha Tsui Handicap which was run at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 18 September 2016.
At the resumption of the hearing on Monday, 26 September 2016, Jockey Cheng was charged with having breached Hong Kong Rule of Racing 99 (2) and (5). At today’s hearing, Jockey Cheng was found guilty of the breach of this Rule. In the circumstances, the Stewards believed that the appropriate penalty was for his licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to commence on Thursday, 13 October 2016 and to expire on Thursday, 12 January 2017 on which day he may resume race riding. During this period, there are 25 racemeetings scheduled to be conducted in Hong Kong.
In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that this was the fourth career offence incurred by Jockey Cheng under this Rule and, in particular, this was the third occasion he had been found guilty of an offence under this Rule since May 2012, the most recent occasion being in October 2014.
Mr L Ho, the trainer of MASTER GOLD, was advised that his evidence had been noted.
