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Greg Childs found to have breached Racing
Rule
29 December 2000
The Stewards
today concluded their inquiry into statements allegedly made by
Jockey G Childs, the rider of SUNLINE, following the running of
the Hong Kong Mile. The statements had appeared in an edition of
the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) on Tuesday, 19 December 2000.
Journalist, Mr D Prendergast, had reported G Childs as saying,
"I spoke to Justin and said, 'Look
we can't cut each other's throat and challenge for the lead',"
Childs said. "Justin agreed. I just told him to follow me.
He (Sheehan) knew ADAM wouldn't have been able to beat SUNLINE,
she is world-class, but it worked out perfect for everyone."
"As Justin said afterwards, ADAM running
third, and the prize money it won, was like winning."
Evidence was taken today from G Childs,
the rider of SUNLINE; J Sheehan (ADAM); D Whyte (NEW TRUMPS); R
Fradd (FAIRY KING PRAWN); W C Marwing (BILLION WIN) and from Mr
D A Hayes, Trainer of CHARMING CITY. Evidence was also taken by
way of a conference telephone call from B Marcus (CHARMING CITY).
Written submissions were received from Trainer Trevor McKee and
from Melbourne racing journalist Mr Tim Habel.
D Whyte (NEW TRUMPS) said it was always
his intention to ride just off the pace if possible. He was able
to accomplish this despite the crowding he received in the early
stages and other than that crowding he had enjoyed a perfect run.
B Marcus (CHARMING CITY) said Mr Hayes
had instructed him to try and ride the horse off the speed and he
too was able to ride the horse exactly as planned despite being
crowded in the early stages. Mr Hayes confirmed that B Marcus had
been instructed to ride the horse away from the lead. He said CHARMING
CITY had won when leading in lower class races, but in a race of
this quality he felt the horse would not be able to lead and be
successful. Mr Hayes had made known to the Stewards before the race
the instructions he had given to Jockey Marcus.
W C Marwing (BILLION WIN) said from a good
gate he had been asked to ride the horse just off the pace. He also
said despite the crowding he received early, he was able to carry
out the instructions as given.
R Fradd (FAIRY KING PRAWN) expressed disappointment with the speed
with which the first 200 Metres of the race was run, but after that
acknowledged he had a good run in the race although coming from
a difficult gate.
None of the riders interviewed had discussed
their pre-race plans with anyone other than the connections involved.
J Sheehan explained that it was always
his intention to ride ADAM off the pace if possible. He acknowledged
that a conversation instigated by G Childs had taken place in the
Jockeys Room before the race.
In the lead up to the inquiry, the Stewards
have looked carefully at the 5 1600 Metre runs of ADAM this year.
Incidentally all these runs were at Group 1 level. They noted the
consistent manner in which ADAM has been ridden. In the Doncaster
Handicap in Sydney early this year, he travelled in 3rd position
beside SUNLINE. In the Epsom Handicap, he travelled in 4th position.
In the Emirates Stakes, he raced outside the leader in second position
and in the George Main Stakes run in Sydney, he led all the way.
The Stewards are convinced that the Sha Tin run fits perfectly into
that pattern. They also established that the sectional times of
ADAM in these Group 1 miles are very consistent. Apart from the
George Main Stakes where he dictated the pace of the race alone
in front, the first 800 Metre sectional times have been 47.87, 47.96,
47.94 (adjusted for the wet track) and 47.94 at Sha Tin. The times
differ by only hundredths of seconds. On the basis of the analysis
they have done, the Stewards were in no doubt that J Sheehan had
ridden ADAM in a manner typical of the horse's racing pattern.
G Childs said he had been instructed if
possible to ride the horse somewhere just off the pace as it was
anticipated that the race would be run at a fast pace from the outset
and some of those drawn inside SUNLINE would go forward, but because
of the manner in which the race was run in the early stages, he
elected to go forward and lead.
G Childs did not agree that he had made
comments as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Mr D
Prendergast. G Childs was adamant that he had never said to J Sheehan,
"Look we can't cut each other's throat and challenge for the
lead". He was also adamant that he had never said to J Sheehan,
"I just told him to follow me". However, he did acknowledge
that he spoke to J Sheehan before the race. He further acknowledged
that he did have an off-the-record social conversation with a Melbourne
journalist and two other people who were, at the time, not known
to him, in the Conrad Hotel at about 9:00 pm after the Hong Kong
Mile.
G Childs was charged with a breach of Rule
190(iii) with engaging in conduct prejudicial to the good reputation
of horse racing in Hong Kong. The charge against him was particularised
in two parts:
1. That at some time prior to the running of the Hong Kong Mile
run at Sha Tin on 17 December 2000, as the rider of SUNLINE, he
spoke with J Sheehan, the rider of ADAM, in the stated race in an
attempt to ensure that J Sheehan rode his mount in a manner, which
although not designed in any way to affect its performance, would
not prejudice the chances of his mount, SUNLINE.
2. That subsequent to the Hong Kong International
Race Meeting held at Sha Tin on 17 December 2000, he made public
to a group of persons which included Australian journalists a conversation
he had had with Jockey J Sheehan at some time prior to the running
of the Hong Kong Mile.
G Childs pleaded not guilty to the charge,
however, the Stewards, after taking into account all the available
evidence and the submissions he had made, found him guilty as charged.
G Childs then submitted that he has been a licensed Jockey for 22
years, ridden throughout Australia, in the United States, New Zealand,
Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and has never before been involved
in a matter such as this one. He put that during his time in racing
he has always endeavoured to conduct himself in a manner which would
reflect credit upon the sport. He therefore made a special request
that his licence to ride in races be not interfered with and the
penalty imposed, if any was to be, be by way of a fine.
The Stewards considered it appropriate
that G Childs be fined the sum of HK$300,000. The evidence submitted
at the inquiry by J Sheehan, D Whyte, W C Marwing, B Marcus, R Fradd
and Mr Hayes was accepted.
During the course of the inquiry, the Stewards
made known to all those before them that they are unaffected by
public demonstrations and by pressure from the press. They know
that if they are influenced by such matters, it will lead to injustices
to licensed persons. This is one occasion that the Stewards believe
they should defend the licensed people under their charge and accordingly
they wish to place on record that no evidence was uncovered which
would even in the slightest way suggest that the Hong Kong Mile
was subject to any corrupt practices. Nor was there any evidence
to suggest G Childs was involved in any dishonest practice.
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