WA:Perth jockey charged after race day fracas

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2011
WA:Perth jockey charged after race day fracas

PERTH, Aug 15 AAP - A Perth jockey has been charged with disorderly conduct and a drug
offence following a fracas with a drug tester at last weekend's Broome Cup carnival.

The 31-year-old jockey from Ascot, who was booked for six rides on Saturday including
the $80,000 Broome Cup, was required to provide a urine sample about half an hour before
the first race.

A police spokeswoman said after the jockey provided the sample, which was a standard
test for all jockeys, he allegedly started abusing the drug tester and became quite aggressive.

Broome Turf Club manager Doug Milner said he was stood down for the day's meet and
escorted off the track.

"He became quite agitated because he had worked quite hard during the week to get under
weight and he hurtled verbal abuse around but basically it was no more than that," Mr
Milner told AAP.

Later that evening while the jockey was at Broome Airport getting ready to board his
flight back to Perth, he allegedly confronted the drug tester again.

According to police he started abusing him as well making threats which prompted onlookers
to call police.

"Police arrested him and were walking him through the airport car park when he's taken
off," a spokeswoman told AAP.

Officers chased after him on foot before bringing him back to Broome police station
where they charged him with disorderly behaviour in public, escaping lawful custody and
possessing a prohibited drug which is believed to be cannabis.

The jockey is due to appear in Broome Magistrates Court on September 10.

The man's jockey licence has been suspended pending a race stewards inquiry.

AAP jsj/jsh/jjs

KEYWORD: JOCKEY

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