Racing stewards find Jacob Biddell guilty of conduct detrimental to interests of racing

Stewards have found Jamie Kah’s housemate guilty of breaching the rules of racing, after images of the group racking white powder were circulated online.

Jamie Kah’s housemate, greyhound trainer Jacob Biddell, has been found guilty of conduct detrimental to the interests of racing.

Biddell and Kah were last month caught up in a scandal after images of them with white powder were circulated.

The Herald Sun revealed photographs were circulating on Whatsapp just days after Melbourne’s leading jockey announced she was returning to racing following a horror fall in March which left her severely concussed and hospitalised.

It led to Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria both initiating investigations into possible breaches of code of conduct and rules.

Bidell, who trains his greyhound team from Kah’s Somerville property, was on Thursday delivered a suspended one-month sentence after a stewards hearing found him guilty of “conduct detrimental to the interests of greyhound racing.”

Jamie Kah with Jacob Biddell and Ruby McIntyre.

The white powder in question.

“On 28 June 2023, Stewards held an inquiry with Mr Jacob Biddell regarding the circumstances of media articles published between 24 June and 25 June 2023 indicating conduct which may have been in breach of the Rules of Racing,” the Greyhound Racing Integrity Unit hearing report said.

“Mr Biddell pleaded not guilty to the charge and made further submissions. Having considered all available evidence, the charge was found proven and Mr Biddell formally found guilty of a breach of GAR 165(a).”

GRV deputy chief steward Andrew Spence stated in the report Biddell was penalised with a “One-month suspension, to be wholly and conditionally suspended for a period of six months.”

It added Biddell would also be required to undergo “an agreed program and satisfy the GRIU of its completion.”

Jockey Jamie Kah will appear before the Victorian Racing Tribunal next month.

The hearing said Biddell’s time as a registered participant in the greyhound industry and good record, his personal circumstances and the need for both a specific and general deterrence, were factors considered in arriving at the penalty decision.

Kah and stablehand Ruby McIntyre, who was also pictured with the “white-powder”, will appear before the Victorian Racing Tribunal in mid-August to face a charge of conduct prejudicial to the image of racing.

McIntyre works for Victoria’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher and David Eustace who are conducting their own internal investigation.

Kah was earlier this month soaking up the sun on holiday with her boyfriend Ben Melham and Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne.

She returned to the races for the first time in an official capacity on Saturday at Moonee Valley, doing strapping duties for two-year-old filly first-starter Miss Stella for trainer Mark Stephenson in race two.

Kah, who has been slowly recovering from the concussion, has become frustrated by the time it is taking to get a medical clearance to resume her career.

“I feel 100 per cent, but I still can’t do jumpouts, although I am riding (work) every day,” Kah told racing media on Saturday.

She is scheduled to a neurological test on Friday and may require another one before getting the all clear.

Kah has not ridden in a race since her heavy fall from Flyball at Flemington on March 11.