Canterbury Racing – 10 August 2005 –

Stipendiary Steward Mr S. C. Ching has laid an Information (Request for a ruling) seeking a ruling as to a change of riders. Mr Sharrock, the trainer of King George (2) in Race 9, has asked that he be permitted to replace Apprentice Jockey Johnathon Parkes with Apprentice Jockey Matthew Cameron

This application relates to Rule 508(4) which provides as follows.

"(4) It shall be the duty of the trainer to ensure that the rider whose name

was declared to the Club pursuant to the provisions of this Rule rides the horse if it starts in the race unless the Judicial Committee in its discretion permits the horse to be ridden by another rider."

Mr Ching advised that Mr Sharrock had approached him about this matter and he said that he would put his request to the Judicial Committee. Mr Ching asked Mr Sharrock to state details of his request.

Mr Sharrock gave evidence that he had originally believed that apprentice claims could be made in the race, and he notified the Bureau that Johnathon Parkes would be riding the horse. He said he later learnt that allowances could not be claimed but didn?t make an amendment with the Bureau, and he found out today that they had J. Parkes on the horse. Mr Sharrock accepted that the situation he was in was entirely his own fault. The reason that he wanted a change was that Matthew Cameron was the more experienced rider.

We raised with Mr Sharrock and Mr Ching the effect a rider change would have on the betting public at this late stage, and there were discussions about this aspect of the request.

Mr Ching was invited to make comments on this application and he agreed that the riders had been widely advertised and that it was (at that time) about two hours until the race started.

After hearing the evidence we adjourned to consider our decision. On returning to the Enquiry Room we gave the following oral decision.

"Having heard the evidence we are satisfied that Johnathon Parkes was notified as the rider of "King George". You accept that you made a mistake and that you would like to have Matthew Cameron ride the horse.

Our main concern is that the betting public will have backed, or not backed, "King George" in the belief that Johnathon Parkes is the rider. Our other concern is that this is very close to the race and there would be a big number of people that would never know about the change. We are sure that TV would put it up and people watching TV would be well aware, but there must be a lot of people that wouldn?t know. So on that basis we are going to refuse your request."