Punting hoop out

Callow on garden duties

FLAMBOYANT jockey Noel Callow will work as a “mower man” at the Gold Coast Turf Club after being suspended for three months and fined after a historical betting-related investigation by Victorian stewards.

Victorian Racing Tribunal chairman Judge John Bowman slapped the period of suspension on Callow, who pleaded guilty to placing about 24 bets totalling almost $4000 when he rode in Victoria in 2013.

Group 1 winner Callow also pleaded guilty to more serious charges of misleading stewards by failing to declare betting accounts.

For the three bettingrelated charges, Callow was fined a total of $4500. For three charges of failing to declare his betting accounts, he was suspended for three months.

Another three-month penalty was imposed but was suspended for 12 months.

“While these offences occurred almost nine years ago, you are a very experienced jockey,” Judge Bowman said.

“You must have known what you were doing breached the rules of racing.

“The other (failing to disclose betting accounts) charges are of greater gravity than the betting charges. The work of stewards is hindered by things such as this.”

Callow, 47, fronted the VRT via video link on Tuesday.

There was no suggestion he had placed bets on horses he was riding, or in races in which he was competing.

Callow has been riding in Queensland since mid-2021 after relocating to the Sunshine State because of a lack of opportunities in Victoria.

The VRT was told Callow had been performing part-time mowing and gardening work at the Gold Coast club and there was no issue in him continuing to work in that capacity despite the suspension.

The VRT heard for the next three months Callow “can ride a mower but not a horse”.