Far North Queensland jockey Masayuki Abe appealing to have betting disqualification downgraded to a suspension

The legal team for a jockey disqualified for betting has told an appeals hearing that the ban would have sweeping ramifications for the Far North Queensland racing industry.

Masayuki Abe is attempting to have his disqualification downgraded to a suspension. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Far North Queensland jockey disqualified for betting has used the “chronic shortage of riders in Cairns” as part of his argument to have his ban downgraded on appeal.

Masayuki Abe appeared on video link at a Queensland Racing Appeals Panel hearing on Tuesday, seeking to have his 16-month disqualification downgraded.

Abe had previously pleaded guilty to two charges which had been levelled by racing stewards.

The particulars of the first charge were that “between 26 February 2023 and 30 January 2024, 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, Abe placed three bets on Australian races, when riding in those races”.

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However, his legal team, led by Tim Ryan KC, told the Appeals Panel on Tuesday that a suspension could be an appropriate penalty for the 43-year-old Japanese-born rider.

A suspension would allow Abe to ride at trackwork and trials in Far North Queensland, but not compete in races.

Ryan told the panel the impact of a disqualification would not only be significant for Abe, but also for the racing industry in Far North Queensland.

Several Far North Queensland trainers tendered statements revealing how Abe’s disqualification would impact trackwork and trials in the region.

“There is a chronic shortage of riders in Cairns … the impact of losing a reliable rider for trackwork and trials in Far North Queensland will be significant,” Ryan said.

“Smaller trainers will be more greatly impacted than the big ones.

“It’s a subjective consideration … how it might affect the (racing) industry in Far North Queensland.

“A suspension could be imposed to prohibit him (Abe) riding in races and restrict him to being able to ride in trials and jumpouts.”

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Ryan also highlighted how the jockey shortage in Far North Queensland was so bad that the Cairns Jockey Club had at one point in the past tried to fly in apprentice jockeys from Singapore.

Ryan said the betting was a “serious error of judgment on his (Abe’s) part”, but “it didn’t involve large sums of money”.

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He said Abe had closed his betting account before it came to the attention of stewards.

“The consequences of a disqualification will be very significant for him,” Ryan said.

“It might be the end of his career, because of a weight perspective.

“He doesn’t have a transferable skill set.”

Emily Ballard, acting for the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, said mandatory minimum penalty guidelines should be upheld for jockeys who bet on races in which they were riding.

Ballard told the Appeals hearing: “If we allow an exception, we run the risk that the exception may become the rule.”

The Appeals Panel adjourned its decision to a date to be fixed.

Originally published as Far North Queensland jockey Masayuki Abe appealing to have betting disqualification downgraded to a suspension