Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued charges against licensed jockeys Jacob Rule and Samuel Payne following an inquiry into an incident following the running of Race 1, The Big Screen Company Three-Year-Old Maiden (1300m), at the Bendigo race meeting on Thursday, 26 September 2019.
JACOB RULE
Mr Rule has been issued with three charges for breaching Australian Rules of Racing 228(b), 232(i) and 211.
CHARGE ONE: AR 228(b) Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing
AR 228 A person must not engage in:
(b) misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour
The summary of the particulars is that Mr Rule rode Highland Jakk, who finished third, in The Big Screen Company Three-Year-Old Maiden (1300m) at Bendigo on 26 September 2019. After the race and following dismounting, Mr Rule engaged in improper conduct when he handed his saddle to Mr Payne to reduce his weight when weighing in.
CHARGE TWO: AR 232(i) Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards
AR 232 A person must not:
(i) give any evidence at an interview, investigation, inquiry, hearing and/or appeal which is false or misleading
The summary of the particulars is that, on 26 September 2019, Mr Rule was interviewed by Stewards regarding the handing of his saddle to Mr Payne, during which he gave evidence that was false and/or misleading.
CHARGE THREE: AR 211 Horse overweight by more than 0.5kg
(1) A rider must ensure that his or her horse does not carry more than 0.5kg in a race over the weight that it is required to carry.
(2) If a rider breaches sub rule (1), any other person at fault for the breach may also be penalised.
The summary of the particulars is that, on 26 September 2019, after riding in Race 1 at Bendigo, Mr Rule weighed in 1.2kgs above his mount’s declared weight, which was in breach of AR 211(1).
SAMUEL PAYNE
Mr Payne has been issued with two charges for breaching Australian Rules of Racing 228(b) and 232(i).
CHARGE ONE: AR 228(b) Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing
AR 228 A person must not engage in:
(b) misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour
The summary of the particulars is that, following the running of The Big Screen Company Three-Year-Old Maiden (1300m) at Bendigo on 26 September 2019, Mr Payne engaged in improper conduct when he accepted a saddle handed to him prior to Mr Rule weighing in in an attempt to reduce Mr Rule’s weigh in weight.
CHARGE TWO: AR 232(i) Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards
AR 232 A person must not:
(i) give any evidence at an interview, investigation, inquiry, hearing and/or appeal which is false or misleading
The summary of the particulars is that, on 26 September 2019, Mr Payne was interviewed by Stewards with respect to Mr Rule handing his saddle to Mr Payne, during which he gave evidence that was false and/or misleading.
The charges against Mr Rule and Mr Payne will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.