Champion jockey Willie Pike ruled out of Perth Cup following Government vaccination mandate
Willie Pike will be absent from Saturday’s Perth Cup meeting at Ascot after a WA Government mandate was handed down on vaccinations.
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A punctuation mark has been put on the Perth riding career of champion jockey Willie Pike and at the moment it’s a case of ‘Last Ride Willie’ instead of ‘Last Race Willie’
Pike has shocked the Perth racing world by standing down from Saturday’s Perth Cup meeting for which he was booked to ride favourite Midnight Blue after the WA Government mandated double vaccinations for racing industry participants and attendees would come into place from January 1.
Speaking to The West Australian’s Ernie Manning on Monday Pike’s manager Dale Verhagen said “William will not be commenting” and “his privacy should be respected.”
Champion jockey William Pike is out of the Perth Cup at Ascot after a double COVID vaccination order for participants and patrons was announced today. https://t.co/KDZJSdJ80o
— The West Sport (@TheWestSport) December 27, 2021
Midnight Blue is currently rated as $3.80 favourite for Saturday’s $400,000 race ahead of stablemate Pure Devotion at $4.60.
Patrick Carbery will now take the mount on Midnight Blue.
As part of the WA Government mandate issued on Monday all racing participants and patrons will need to be double vaccinated to attend race meetings from Saturday January 1.
While Pike has not commented publicly there have been whispers of his vaccination stance circulating for months.
The WA Government will enforce ‘proof of vaccination’ for everyone attending Saturday’s Perth Cup meeting with all attendees required to show they have been vaccinated against Covid.
Following the Government announcement RWWA confirmed all staff, contractors, volunteers and industry participants would need to provide proof of being double vaccinated, and that included owners, trainers and jockeys.
Mask wearing at the Perth Cup on New Years Day and there will be a proof of vaccination requirement for everyone who attends the event.
— Syan Dougherty (@SyanDougherty) December 27, 2021
It’s the first time this has happened in WA.
Originally published as Champion jockey Willie Pike ruled out of Perth Cup following Government vaccination mandate
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