CAYMANAS CLAMPDOWN!
Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Chairman Clovis Metcalfe says that there are now plans in place to search the gate attendants on race days at Caymanas Park. The gate attendants are responsible for loading horses in the starting gates on race days at the racetrack.
The JRC’s latest move comes after apprentice jockey Anthony Allen, who was aboard JON MARSHALL, was caught with an illegal device known as a ‘battery’ at the starting gate before the start of the fifth race last Saturday.
Metcalfe told STAR Sports that a search of gate attendants will help to ensure that the integrity of the sport is protected at all times.
“Going forward, consideration will be given to search everybody that has access to the jockeys prior to a race, and that includes the gate attendants,” said Metcalfe.
“This will ensure that we don’t short-change the punter and stakeholders and this will make for a clean sport. Everybody will be on a level playing field because nobody will have an unfair advantage ... ,” he said.
SECOND OFFENDER
Allen is the second apprentice jockey to be caught with a ‘battery’ in the past two years after Jawani Forbes was caught on January 5, 2019.
He was given a two-year ban and fined $250,000 by the First Instance Tribunal of the JRC.
Metcalfe underscored that Allen admitted to the offence during a hearing on Tuesday, and he is now scheduled to face JRC First Instance Tribunal in the coming days.
“This First Instance Tribunal includes two of the best legal minds in Jamaica, namely Kent Pantry and Garth McBean, and they will be part of that committee that will investigate the matter further,” said Metcalfe.
“Every illegal activity is disappointing because this young man (Allen) was leading jockey up to February of this year, and so he had a really bright future ahead of him in the saddle,” he said.
Metcalfe warned all jockeys to desist from this practice because it is an illegal thing to do and JRC will not tolerate it.
“I want to implore all the other jockeys to stick to the guidelines and to be professional at all times. Once you are found with any illegal device, then you will face the consequences for your actions,” Metcalfe stated.