‘Deeply embarrassed’: Star jockeys banned for three months over COVID-19 breaches

Star jockey Jamie Kah has been suspended for the entire spring racing carnival, along with ace rider Ben Melham, for breaching COVID-19 protocols at a house party at a Mornington Airbnb on Wednesday night.

Kah, who this year became the first woman to win the state’s jockey premiership, Golden Slipper winner Melham, and former champion apprentice Ethan Brown and apprentice Celine Gaudray have all been banned for three months following a stewards inquiry on Friday morning.

Jamie Kah.Credit: Getty Images

Racing Victoria boss Giles Thompson said her absence would be a severe blow to the carnival, both from a media, marketing and general interest perspective, but no-one could be above the rules - especially in such serious circumstances.

“Jamie Kah is an extraordinary jockey and a great jockey to watch and to not have her there will undoubtedly diminish our carnival.

“However these protocols are there for a good reason and no one is above these protocols and it is really important that everyone in our sport, no matter who they are, abides by these protocols.

″⁣The community has taken great interest in this story and I’m not surprised by the reaction I have heard directly and also seen [on social media]. The reaction is of real disappointment. People understood in our industry how privileged it was to continue and what we had to do to continue.

“So to have senior members of our racing community breach the protocols and show such disrespect to everyone else in that community is truly disappointing.″⁣

Immediately after the bans were handed down Kah, who became the first rider to steer home 100 metropolitan winners in Victoria last season, apologised on Twitter.

“I am deeply embarrassed and disappointed with myself. There is no excuse for what I have done and I have let down my family and friends, the racing industry and all Victorians who are doing the right thing in this lockdown,” Kah posted on social media.

“I deserve the penalty handed down by the stewards and will take the time to reflect on my actions and its impact on so many people.”

The inquiry was held behind closed doors because of the “sensitive nature of the evidence”. Kah, Melham, Brown and Gaudray were charged with failing or refusing to comply with an order, direction or requirement of the stewards or an official.

“We became aware of the situation and opened an inquiry into what happened at the Mornington Airbnb. Because of the sensitive nature of the evidence already taken, the inquiry will not be open to the press, and we will be issuing a media release at the conclusion of the inquiry,” Racing Victoria chief steward Robert Cram said on Friday morning.

The quartet were also fined over $5000 each for their breach of the state’s COVID-19 rules, with Victoria Police confirming their penalties on Friday morning. A Victoria Police statement on Friday said that six people were each fined $5452 for breaking curfew and the five-kilometre radius limit on Wednesday night, with police called to the property after a noise complaint was made.

Victorian jockey Ben Melham has been charged by Racing Victoria stewards.Credit: Getty Images

Racing officials were only notified of the alleged breach by an informant close to the industry. They were not informed by police.

Stewards said they had taken tough action because “the penalty must be seen to publicly address the seriousness of the offending and make clear that compliance with the COVID-19 protocols is non-negotiable”.

“The stewards have determined that all four jockeys will have their licence to ride in races suspended for a period of three months,” RV said in a statement.

“The suspension begins at midnight on 26 August 2021 and will expire at midnight on 25 November 2021.

“In addition, all jockeys were notified in writing today of their requirements to fulfil the recommendations of Racing Victoria’s chief medical officer (CMO) which includes a stand-down order of 14 days (beginning today) from all licensed premises and that negative COVID-19 tests must be provided over that period.

“The jockeys will be permitted to participate in trackwork, jump-outs and official trials once the 14-day stand down order from the CMO concludes on 9 September 2021.”

Racing officials are seething over the damage done to the industry, and that the actions of the four jockeys could have forced the sector to shut down.

In a statement confirming the fines, Victoria Police said: “Police have issued penalty infringement notices to six people following a private gathering at a short-term rental property in Mornington on Wednesday (25 August). Officers were called to the property on Tallis Drive following reports of a noise complaint about 11.50pm.

“Upon arrival officers located six people inside, all allegedly outside their 5km radius and in breach of curfew. All have been issued with a $5452 infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions.”

For Kah and Melham, the fine is a small amount compared to the earnings they stood to make during Melbourne’s lucrative racing carnival as two of the state’s top riders.

Melham had recently returned to riding in May from a five-month suspension for betting offences and for giving stewards misleading evidence in an earlier case last year.

The Victorian government expressed angry at the actions of the jockeys, with Health Minister Martin Foley saying at Friday morning’s COVID-19 press conference that he was bitterly disappointed. Sports Minister Martin Pakula said that the riders’ actions were “beyond disappointing” and “mind-boggling”.

“These individuals could have put at risk the very continuance of our sport and also blatantly disregarded the broader community implications through their selfish and thoughtless actions,” Thompson said.

“To see all of that potentially thrown away by the reckless behaviour of a small few is incredibly disappointing and far from what is expected of our industry participants.”

Kah was due to ride group 1 Memsie Stakes favourite Behemoth in Saturday’s $1 million race, while Melham also had been booked to ride Beau Rossa.

With Damien Ractliffe

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