Racing NSW stewards have disqualified jockey Wayne Wheatley for 12 months after completing ed three inquiries arising from incidents at the Casino race meeting on August 14.
Evidence was taken from jockeys Wayne Wheatley and Jamie Quinnell; stewards Mark Holloway and Drew Smith, SNP security officers Paul Lasance and Eddie Mackney (by telephone) and John Keledjian, the general manager of the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
Racing NSW Racecourse Detective R Nicholson assisted the enquiry.
Written evidence was also tendered from the four employees of SNP Security Services which provided security services to the Casino Racing Club race meeting on August 14.
In addition stewards viewed CCTV footage from the Casino meeting.
The following findings were made relative to the three enquiries:
1. Wayne Wheatley, who rode Desert Bunny, winner of the Sky Channel Benchmark 70 Handicap, 11 pleaded guilty to a charge under AR81A(1)(b) of having failed to deliver a sample as directed by chief steward Mark Holloway. A penalty of 12 months disqualification of license was issued.
2. Wayne Wheatley pleaded guilty to a charge under AR81A(1)(a) of having delivered a sample on Monday August 15, the day subsequent to the Casino race meeting, which upon analysis was found to contain a banned substance. In assessing a penalty of 12 months disqualification stewards took into account that this was Wayne Wheatley's sixth offence under the banned substance rules.
3. Wayne Wheatley pleaded guilty to charges under AR175(gg) of having made false statements relative to his failure to provide a sample as directed at the Casino meeting of August 14to MNCRA chief steward Drew Smith in a telephone conversation at or around 5.30 pm on August 14; and to NRRA chief steward Mark Holloway at the NRRA offices at Grafton racecourse at or around 12 noon on August 15. A penalty of 12 months disqualification of license was issued.
The stewards determined that the three one year disqualifications be served concurrently.
Wheatley will be eligible to apply to be relicensed on August 15 2012.
An inquiry into Jamie Quinnells participation in these matters was adjourned so that stewards might view his mobile phone records.
