Racing Victoria will allow banned jockey Jamie Kah to attend awards night

Racing Victoria appears to have read the public mood and changed their stance on jockey Jamie Kah’s participation at their awards event.

Jamie Kah will be in the spotlight at Sunday’s Victorian racing awards. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Jamie Kah is set to be part of the broadcast of Victoria’s marquee racing awards night on Sunday after Racing Victoria executives decided to give her the green light to participate and accept her awards.

News Corp Australia revealed on Wednesday that Racing Victoria was undecided over whether to shun the banned jockey from the broadcast of the Victorian Racing Awards to be broadcast on racing.com on Sunday night.

RV had viewed it as a delicate situation given that Kah’s recent three-month ban for the infamous jockey Airbnb scandal.

There was one view that while her record-breaking riding achievements last season should be celebrated, it may be poor optics to do so during the awards night on Sunday where if she was interviewed she would surely be asked questions about her ban.

It was a matter for Racing Victoria who had been deliberating over the matter for days.

But News Corp can reveal that on Thursday it was decided that Kah would be part of the broadcast, if she so desires.

News Corp understands Kah does want to be part of the broadcast and accept her awards, which will almost certainly include the prestigious Scobie Breasley medal.

It will mark her first public appearance since being banned.

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Jamie Kah. Picture: Alex Coppel

Earlier on Thursday, Victorian Jockeys’ Association boss Matt Hyland said that Kah should be allowed to participate in the awards, as long as she was comfortable doing so.

“My view is that if she is happy to attend the awards and accept her awards, she should be given that opportunity,” Hyland told News Corp.

“If she is comfortable accepting them, then I would support what Jamie Kah is comfortable with.

“She has won the awards and she should be able to accept them.

“If was a magnificent achievement from her in the last 12 months.

“And she is paying her penalty for the incident.”

The awards night has a different flavour in the Covid-19 era, with jockeys and other participants set to be interviewed or make acceptance speeches via zoom or other video means.

Kah respects awards night host Jason Richardson, with the pair managed by the same agent.

Racing Victoria would have noted the public response to News Corp’s story on Wednesday, with the public consensus seeming to be that she should be allowed to participate in the awards night.

That public feedback seemed to be mirrored by callers to Melbourne radio stations on Thursday morning.

Originally published as Racing Victoria will allow banned jockey Jamie Kah to attend awards night