RE : SHOW CAUSE ISSUED TO APPRENTICE VISHAL N. BUNDE  AS TO WHY HIS PUNISHMENT SHOULD NOT BE ENHANCED FOR GROSS MISCONDUCT ON THE PREMISES OF THE RACECOURSE – ENQUIRY INTO THE FIGHT THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE JOCKEYS ROOM ON 28th AUGUST, 2017 BETWEEN HIM AND TRAINEE APPRENTICE PRAKASH AKHADE :

The Board of Appeal at its meeting held on 24th November, 2017 considered all documents and papers that were submitted including App. Vishal N. Bunde’s reply to the show cause and heard the submissions made by him and his spokesman, Mr. Usman Rangila. The Board of Appeal deliberated on the matter at length and considered his plea that since he has already learnt his lesson, his punishment should not be enhanced. The Board of Appeal having applied their minds, decided by majority, not to enhance his punishment but to retain the punishment imposed by the Stewards of the Club, i.e. suspension of his Apprentice Jockey's licence till the end of Mumbai Meeting 2017-2018.

MERCY PETITION FROM JOCKEY P.S.CHOUHAN IN RESPECT OF SUSPENSION OF HIS JOCKEY’S LICENCE W.E.F. 19/11/2017 TO 30/11/2017 AND A FINE OF RS.10,000/- IMPOSED ON HIM BY THE BOARD OF APPEAL FOR INJUDICIOUS RIDING ON “JUNE” IN RACE NO.89 – THE RADICAL FORCE PLATE RUN ON 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2017 :

The Board of Appeal at its meeting held on 26th November, 2017 considered Mercy Petition dated 24th November, 2017 from Jockey P. S. Chouhan on the abovementioned subject. The Board of Appeal after having considered his Mercy Petition and having heard his submissions, decided to reject his Mercy Petition.

RE : ENQUIRY INTO THE RUNNING AND RIDING OF “BROTHERSOFTHEWIND” (S.S.BARIA, DR.3) IN RACE NO.5 – THE SMT.PADAM & RTN.DARSHAN CHADDA, A CHADDA FAMILY CHARITIES & ROTARY CLUB OF MUMBAI DOWNTOWN SEALAND TROPHY (1000 METRES) - RUN ON 19th NOVEMBER, 2017:

The Stipendiary Stewards reported that they had questioned Trainer Vinesh and Jockey S. S. Baria in the above connection. Trainer Vinesh said that the horse has soundness issues and was treated at the Equine Hospital by the Club’s Vets from 17th September, 2017 onwards after which he was in rest for three days. Thereafter, the horse started trotting but was still not fully right, hence he again showed him to the Vet and laid him off  till 28th October, 2017. He said that prior to this race the horse had two fast work outs i.e. on 9th November, 2017 and 16th November, 2017 and had returned sound, however, considering these soundness issues, he had instructed Jockey S. S. Baria to take a good jump and ride his own race, save the horse and ensure that he came back sound. Trainer Vinesh’s attention was drawn to the Calendar Notifications with regard to penalties for running horses in unfit condition.

Trainer Vinesh said that the ideal distance of this horse was 1400 metres but this was a 1000 metres race. Also, the horse was interfered at the gates and was bleeding from the mouth. However, he admitted that considering the soundness issues he did ask the Jockey to save the horse and ensure that he comes back sound.

Jockey S. S. Baria confirmed the instructions and added that the Trainer had informed him that the horse had soundness issues and to ride carefully.

The video recording of the race was viewed and Trainer Vinesh was informed that in future he should use the Mock Race for such cases, to which Trainer Vinesh agreed.

Having heard the submissions made and having viewed the video recording of the race, the Stipendiary Stewards were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by the Trainer and Jockey, and decided :-

a)       To suspend Mr. S. S. Baria’s Jockey’s license for Two Race Days, w.e.f. 22nd December, 2017 to 24th December, 2017 (both days inclusive) for riding an indifferent race (permitted to ride work/mock race);

b)       To fine Trainer Vinesh a sum of Rs.15,000/- for tacit approval, this being his repeated offence on the same horse.

The Stewards of the Club at their meeting held on Sunday, 3rd December, 2017 considered a request from Trainer Vinesh to convert the fine imposed on him into a suspension and having heard him, decided to reject the same.

RE : ENQUIRY INTO THE RIDING OF JOCKEY R.AJINKYA ON “ROYAL BLOOD” (DRAWN-9) IN RACE NO.181 – THE RED DRAGON PLATE (DIV.II) (1000 METRES) - RUN ON 28th OCTOBER, 2017:

To a query, Jockey R. Ajinkya confirmed that he was aware of the Rule that all horses must be ridden out past the post whether he would have beaten the other horses or not.  

The video recording of the race was viewed and it was pointed out to Jockey R. Ajinkya that he had dropped his hands before passing the Winning Post. Jockey R. Ajinkya admitted his mistake and apologized for the same.

Jockey R. Ajinkya has been fined Rs.2,000/- and severely warned for dropping his hands before passing the winning post.

RE : ENQUIRY INTO THE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF “JULIANO” (S. A. AMIT, DR.10) IN RACE NO.188 – THE SHAMU CHAVAN TROPHY (DIV.III) (1200 METRES) - RUN ON 29th OCTOBER, 2017 WHICH THE GELDING WON AS COMPARED TO HIS PREVIOUS TWO IN RUNS I.E. RACE NO.150 AND RACE NO.36 WHERE HE WAS UNPLACED:

The delay in the enquiry was due to the change of season.

The Stipendiary Stewards reported that they had questioned Trainer Sanjay Kolse in the above connection. He said that in Race No.150 the horse ran in a lower class and he had claimed 5 kg. allowance and fancied the horse very strongly. However, the conditions on that day were a bit different, in that, it was overcast and humid and the Penetrometer reading was 3.8 with wide 7 metres false rails from the 700 metres to the winning post. He said that after that race the Jockey had informed him that the horse jumped out well but all the way he was trying to veer out as such he could not ride him out and coming into the straight the horse fizzled out. He said that the horse returned sore after that race and was treated.

The video recording of Race No.150 was viewed and Trainer Sanjay Kolse pointed out that the horse was trying to go out and he has shown this tendency even in the previous races. He added that when the horse ran in Race No.188 the weather was cool and there were false rails of only 1 metre from the 1000 metres to the Winning Post. He said that in this race he had specifically instructed Jockey S. A. Amit to keep the whip in the left hand. He said that the horse tried to veer out in this race as well but the Jockey corrected him and gave him a couple of reminders from the left and his handling and riding suited the horse the best. He said that he had fancied the horse both the times but he was stronger in the previous start.

Thereafter, the video recording of Race No.36 was viewed. Trainer Sanjay Kolse said that in this race it was the first run of the horse during the Pune Meeting 2017 and he was running in a higher class but he ran a good race.  It was pointed out to Trainer Sanjay Kolse that though the horse has drifted out in this race also, it was more to do with the riding and no fault of the horse, to which he agreed.

Having heard the submissions made, viewing the video recording of all the races concerned and scrutinizing the betting sheets, the explanation tendered by Trainer Sanjay Kolse was noted.

RE : ENQUIRY INTO THE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF “ROYAL CLASSIC” (S. A. AMIT, DR.12) IN RACE NO.28 – THE SONALIKA PLATE (DIV.I) (1200 METRES) - RUN ON 30th NOVEMBER, 2017 WHICH THE GELDING WON AS COMPARED TO HIS PREVIOUS RUN SIX DAYS EARLIER IN RACE NO.13 – THE GREAT GUNS PLATE (DIV.I) (1400 METRES) – RUN ON 24th NOVEMBER, 2017 WHERE HE WAS UNPLACED:

The Stipendiaryi Stewards reported that they had questioned Trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha in the above connection. He was shown the Calendar Notification “Re: Horses winning within a short span of time” and asked to explain the improved performance of his charge ROYAL CLASSIC in a short span of ten days.

Trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha said that the gelding was at longer odds. He said that the two fancied runners viz. WILSHIRE and BEYOND FORCES who finished 2nd and 3rd in Race No.28 were still maidens and may have lacked fitness because of the longish gap which could be the reason for his charge winning the race. He added that ROYAL CLASSIC won in Div.I in a weaker set of horses and if it had run in Div.II, he could have not even finished 2nd/3rd.  

The Stipendiary Stewards were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Trainer Adhirajsingh Jodha, however, keeping in mind that the horse was at longer odds, they took a lenient view and fined him a sum of Rs.10,000/- for contravention of the Calendar Notification “Re : Horses winning within a short span of time”.