North Queensland jockey who placed bets on 50 races disqualified for 16 months

Jockey Masayuki Abe, who rides in far north Queensland, has been disqualified by racing stewards for betting offences.

Masayuki Abe. Picture: Brendan Radke

A jockey who rides in far north Queensland has been disqualified by racing stewards for 16 months for betting offences.

Masayuki Abe pleaded guilty to two charges laid by stewards.

The particulars of the first charge were that “between 26 February 2023 and 30 January 2024, jockey Abe placed 50 bets on Australian and international races when not permitted to do so.”

The second charge was that specified that “between 26 February 2023 and 30 January 2024, jockey Abe placed three bets on Australian races, when riding in those races.”

The stewards report stated, of the second charge, that “the stewards found that in the two races where Mr Abe supported other runners, there was no evidence that his riding compromised or assisted any horses chances.”

Stewards disqualified Abe for 16 months on the first charge and three months on the second charge, but ruled that the bans be served concurrently.

It means he will not be able to ride until March 28, 2026.

In assessing penalty, stewards took into factors, including:

• “Mr Abe’s admissions of both breaches and the remorse demonstrated.”

• “Mr Abe’s previously clear record in relation to both rules.”

• “Mr Abe’s verbal submissions and his personal circumstances.”

• “That, on two occasions when riding in races, Mr Abe wagered on horses not ridden by him.”

• “The need to ensure that the sanction imposed appropriately operates as a means of deterrence and denunciation, and that it deters others who may contemplate breaching the Rules of Racing.”

Japanese-born Abe has been riding in far north Queensland for several years and was once an apprentice jockey in Alice Springs.

He has ridden 196 winners in a riding career which began in Australia in 2003.

Abe has been advised of his rights of appeal.

Originally published as North Queensland jockey who placed bets on 50 races disqualified for 16 months