Non Raceday Inquiry – Written Decision dated 28 January 2025 – Rohan Mudhoo

BACKGROUND:

Information No. A20301 has been filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, against Licensed Class A Jockey, Rohan Mudhoo, following the meeting of Kumara RC held at Kumara on 11 January 2025.

Mr Mudhoo was the Rider of YUNGBLUD in Race 5, Hynds Pipe Systems/Alex Haywad and Noel Wafer POW. The Information charges that Mr Mudhoo misconducted himself by jagging on his mount’s mouth and also slapping the horse with the whip, when pulling up after the race.

An Authority to Charge, signed by the Chief Executive of the Racing Integrity Board, Dr Eliot Forbes, was produced.

Mr Mudhoo had signed the Information “I do admit a breach of the rule” and he confirmed at the commencement of the hearing, that the charge was admitted.

THE RULE:

Rule 800 provides as follows:

A Licensed Person, Owner, lessee, Racing Manager, Official or other person bound by these Rules must not misconduct themself in any matter relating to the conduct of Races or racing.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, showed a video replay of the field pulling up following the race. He pointed out YUNGBLUD, ridden by Mr Mudhoo, come into shot on the Trackside vision. He then pointed out Mr Mudhoo jag on the horse’s mouth and give it two “slaps” with his whip, followed by one further “decent one”. He said that the replay was the Trackside vision and, unfortunately, had gone out live on the Trackside channel. There had been several complaints since, to both NZTR and the RIB, Mr Davidson said.

Mr Mudhoo began by apologising for his actions. He explained that the reason he had done what he did, was that he had no steering. The horse’s jaw had “locked” and he did the only thing he could think of to stop the horse. He could not stop it by pulling its head and had slapped it with the whip to make it release the bit. He then managed to pull the horse up, but he accepted that it did not look good. It was not the way to stop a horse, he said, and as a Senior Rider, he should have reacted better. He does not normally behave like this, he said.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Davidson said that, unsurprisingly, Mr Mudhoo has a clear record under the “Misconduct Rule”.

He drew the Adjudicative Committee’s attention to the penalty of a $750 fine handed down in each of two recent cases involving Jockeys striking their mounts in the barriers, with “light taps” between the ears. He submitted that the misconduct in the present case, was more serious than that in either of those two cases and, on that basis, submitted that there should be a suspension of Mr Mudhoo’s Licence. Mr Mudhoo had admitted the breach immediately and such conduct is out of character for him, he said. Mr Davidson added that the horse is known for being “reasonably difficult”.

Mr Mudhoo requested a deferment of any term of suspension, until after the meeting of Gore RC on Sunday, 2 February next.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Mudhoo has explained that he reacted to his mount’s jaw locking on the bit on pulling up by “jagging” on its mouth and, when that action has not succeeded in freeing the bit, he has slapped it three times in rapid succession with his whip.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (March 2024) provides:

The whip should not be used inappropriately on a horse at any time. In particular, excessive, unnecessary, or improper use of the whip outside of a race may be regarded as misconduct under Rule 800 of the Rules.

Even accepting Mr Mudhoo’s explanation, and there is no independent proof of it, jagging on the bit and slapping his mount with the whip is never acceptable and, clearly, constitutes misconduct and a clear breach of the Rule.

It is unfortunate that Mr Mudhoo’s actions were clearly shown on the Trackside television coverage and noticed by some viewers.

The Adjudicative Committee has noted Mr Mudhoo’s explanation for his actions, but such actions cannot be condoned. To his credit, Mr Mudhoo showed genuine remorse to the Adjudicative Committee.

The Penalty Guide provides that the penalty for a breach of Rule 800 is “fact dependent”. This involves a penalty to be determined by the Adjudicative Committee based on the facts of the matter and its overall assessment of the seriousness of the conduct. The Adjudicative Committee considers that the conduct, in this case, requires a suspension and the Adjudicative Committee has determined that the appropriate penalty is a suspension of 6 national riding days. The Adjudicative Committee acknowledges that there are animal welfare aspects to the offending in this case and has factored this into the penalty arrived at.

CONCLUSION:

Class A Jockey, Rohan Mudhoo’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from after the close of racing on 2 February 2025, up to and including 12 February 2025 – 6 national riding days.