One of Australia’s top jockeys told police he would “destroy” them in court and racially abused an officer during a drunken night out before a major horse-racing carnival in country NSW.
Chadley David Schofield, 30, clashed with police in the early hours of Wagga Cup day in May, resulting in the high-profile jockey spending the night in custody after initially being asked to leave the Victoria Hotel where he had been drinking.
In a police statement of facts, Schofield allegedly told an officer to “f--- off, you bald-headed c---”, racially abused another of Asian descent, and opened the driver’s side door of a police vehicle and grabbed a constable’s arm after they had dropped him at his accommodation, resulting in him being taken into custody.
It was part of a torrent of abuse he levelled at police, who became alerted to Schofield’s intoxication after security staff escorted him out of the pub in the Riverina.
In the ensuing minutes, Schofield is claimed to have initially refused to provide identification and then used language such as “f--- you”, “read it, you f---ing idiot” and “f---ing bitch” towards police.
In a police statement, Schofield is also accused of taunting officers: “Please take me to court. I will destroy you in court.”
Top jockey Chad Schofield.Credit: Getty Images
Schofield, one of the country’s most celebrated jockeys, faced Sutherland Local Court on Thursday answering charges of using offensive language in or near a public place or school, assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty and an excluded person failing to leave premises when required.
He has pleaded guilty to the charges and expressed remorse over the incident.
The case has been adjourned until September 30 after an application for it to be dealt with on mental health grounds.
Schofield was quietly stood down from his rides on Wagga Cup day after the run-in with police, where he was due to partner Makram in the $200,000 feature race. The horse finished ninth.
He has been a household name among punters since winning the Cox Plate, Australia’s prestigious weight-for-age championship, on Shamus Award while he was still an apprentice jockey in 2013.
It prompted the Hong Kong Jockey Club to poach him for its star-studded riding roster two years later, but he has since returned to Australia.
Schofield was part of a number of Sydney-based jockeys who headed to Wagga for the two-day carnival before he was seen arguing with security in the main bar of the Victoria Hotel about 12.40am on the morning of the cup.
The police facts sheet said on several occasions Schofield tried to intimidate police and after continuing to protest with security as he was escorted out of the venue, twice grabbed the hand of Senior Constable Matthew Giddings and tried to remove the officer’s grip from his jumper.
He allegedly said: “I know my rights. I know my rights so f--- you, buddy.”
Schofield eventually provided a digital driver’s licence to police and later poked Giddings in the chest with a finger on his right hand.
Police then put him in their vehicle to take him to his accommodation several hundred metres away, only for Schofield, upon leaving the car, to open the driver’s side door and grab an officer’s arm. Police got out of the car and arrested him. Schofield was placed in custody and time out due to his level of drunkenness.
Police allege Schofield’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, while his skin was red and flushed.
He was granted conditional bail not to enter any licensed premises, including pubs and hotels, within the Wagga CBD and surrounding suburbs.
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