Jockey Chris Taylor
On Thursday 2 May 2013 The National Horseracing Authority concluded two inquiries into incidents which occurred on 10 February 2013.
The first incident involved an assault in the jockeys’ quarters at the Greyville Racecourse by Jockey Christopher Taylor on Jockey Muzi Yeni. Arising out of the inquiry Mr Taylor was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.25. This reads as follows:
No PERSON shall misbehave himself or conduct himself in an improper manner on any RACE COURSE PROPERTY at any time.
Mr Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge. He was accordingly found guilty of the contravention as charged. The Inquiry Board imposed a penalty of a fine of R20 000.00 and a suspension of Mr Taylor’s jockey’s licence for a period of 4 months. R15 000.00 of the fine and the entire suspension of Mr Taylor’s licence were suspended for a period of two years on condition that during the period of suspension he is not found guilty of a contravention of any one or more of Rules 72.1.18, 72.1.25 and 72.1.26 in circumstances where the contravention involves violence towards or an assault upon another person. In suspending the major part of the fine and the suspension of Mr Taylor’s licence, the Inquiry Board took into account the following:
1. The fact that this was the first contravention of the Rules by Mr Taylor which involved an assault on another person;
2. Mr Taylor’s personal circumstances and in particular the fact that he incurred substantial debt which he is required to repay being medical expenses arising out of the recent premature birth of twin children.
The second incident involved a confrontation between Jockey Muzi Yeni and two other persons and Jockey Christopher Taylor and an assault on Mr Taylor which took place in the car park at the Greyville Racecourse after the running of Race 5. Arising out of the inquiry, Mr Yeni was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.26.
This relevant portion of this Rule reads:
No PERSON shall behave or conduct himself in such a manner which has or might have the effect of discrediting horse racing ……..
Jockey Muzi Yeni
Mr Yeni pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Inquiry Board, after deliberation, took into account that the confrontation and assault on Jockey Christopher Taylor took place in full view of the racing public and found Mr Yeni guilty and imposed the following penalty:
A fine of R30 000.00 and a suspension of his jockey’s licence for a period of four months. R20 000.00 of the fine and the entire suspension of Mr Yeni’s licence were suspended for a period of two years on condition that during the period of suspension he is not found guilty of a contravention of any one or more of Rules 72.1.18, 72.1.25 and 72.1.26 in circumstances where the contravention involves violence towards or an assault upon another person. In charging Mr Yeni with a contravention of Rule 72.1.26 and in suspending the major part of the fine and the suspension of Mr Yeni’s licence but nonetheless imposing a more severe penalty than that imposed upon Mr Taylor, the Inquiry Board took into account the following:
1. A contravention of Rule 72.1.26 is to be seen in a more serious light than a contravention of Rule 72.1.25;
2. The confrontation was premeditated and orchestrated by Mr Yeni who, after the assault upon him by Mr Taylor, telephoned a cousin and asked him to come to the Greyville Racecourse inter alia for the purposes of confronting Mr Taylor about the assault;
3. The fact that this was the first contravention of the Rules by Mr Yeni which involved an assault on another person;
4. Mr Yeni’s personal circumstances and in particular the fact that during the assault upon him by Mr Taylor, and in the course of defending himself, he broke a thumb and was unable to ride for a period of approximately 2 months and accordingly suffered a considerable loss of income.
