Jockey Glyn Schofield has been fined $50,000 over his involvement in the sale of Equita to Hong Kong.
Glyn Schofield
Schofield pleaded guilty to a charge he negotiated the sale of the then unraced Equita, trained by Brent Stanley, to Hong Kong trainer Danny Shum.
Equita was sold to Shum for $300,000 with Schofield retaining $20,000 as commission and paying Stanley $20,000 in cash in the jockeys car park at Randwick racecourse last year.
While saying Schofield had not acted dishonestly, Judge Bowman said it was still a “serious offence” when handing down the decision of the Racing and Disciplinary board on Monday.
“In no way do we suggest Mr Schofield acted dishonestly, however he kept $20,000 as a commission and paid $20,000 to Mr Stanley at the request of the trainer,” Judge Bowman said.
“We accept Mr Schofield had some ignorance of the rule and perhaps held an erroneous view of the law after communication from Racing NSW stewards.”
Schofield was fined $20,000 last week at the conclusion of a Racing New South Wales enquiry over his involvement in the sale of the racehorse Lil Caesar, also to Danny Shum in Hong Kong.
In his submission, Joe Ferwerda, acting for Schofield, tended email communications between Schofield and Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy seeking clarification of AR85C (1) which prohibits jockeys being involved in buying or selling of bloodstock.
Judge Bowman said the Equita transaction reflected poorly on the image of racing.
“Mr Schofield has claimed he has received unfavourable publicity over his involvement, however the image of racing has suffered as well,” Bowman said.
“The handing over of $20,000 cash in a jockeys’ car park at Randwick racecourse is a very poor look.”
Stewards granted Schofield three months to pay the fine.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed, I don’t think I will appeal,” Schofield said.
“I was found to have not acted dishonestly or in a deliberate manner and at the time I was unaware of the rule.
“I haven’t been suspended, I just want to put this behind me and get back riding winners.”
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