ROOKE FACING WEIGHT OF 26 RULE OFFENCES
GEORGE ROOKE could be disqualified from 26 races later for breaches which include riding with a claim the BHA say he was unentitled to.
The apprentice jockey is up before racing’s ruling body for several offences, after he failed to declare three winners in Jersey.
On his return, Rooke did not report the successes in July and August of last year to officials.
The BHA says the young rider should have been claiming 5lb from February 21, but he competed in a number of races with his usual 7lb allowance.
Jockeys can take off the higher amount until they have won 20 races.
It is their responsibility to make sure they are claiming the correct weight.
Rooke, who primarily rides for trainer Richard Hughes, had seven winners during the affected period, which he could now lose.
He also took part in the Racing Excellence Apprentice Series, restricted to jockeys with no more than ten triumphs prior to November 15.
The BHA was alerted to the situation at Newcastle’s fixture on February 27, where the allowance was corrected publicly.
Since March, Rooke has ridden with his correct 5lb claim and has had 11 winners.
Today’s disciplinary panel will determine if he is in breach of the requirement to ride with the correct weight and for jockeys to inform the BHA of winners outside of Britain.
The hearing has been delayed from March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
■ ROBERT HAVLIN (above) intends to appeal a 10-day ban for careless riding.
Raceday stewards at Yamouth handed him the punishment for his ride on Swift Verdict in the 1m 3f maiden handicap.
In first-time blinkers, his mount edged left under pressure, badly hampering two rivals on his inside. “I had no time to react, it was two strides,” he said.