BENEATH the pomp and prestige of horse racing, a sinister undercurrent of corruption and deceit continues to lurk.

The latest controversy to rock the local industry involves jockey Kerry-Gayl Robinson who rode Happy Force in the seventh race on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

Robinson was handed a 25-race day suspension and a $20,000 fine by the stewards for not taking “all reasonable and permissible measures” in the race to ensure the horse had the full opportunity to obtain the best-possible placing. The suspension takes effect on Saturday, September 21.

The incident has reignited concerns about corruption and manipulation within the sport.

According to Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Chairman Clovis Metcalfe, the stewards thoroughly reviewed the video footage of the race and determined that Robinson failed to take necessary actions to improve Happy Force’s position.

Metcalfe said that though the jockey appeared to use the whip the horse was not being pushed in a satisfactory manner.

“The stewards met with Robinson and, after discussing the matter with him, they deduced that he failed to persevere with the horse to ensure a better placing,” Metcalfe told the Jamaica Observer.

“Robinson acted as if he was whipping the horse but the video clearly indicated that the horse was not being encouraged and, as a matter of fact you know, was not being hit by the whip. The video also indicates that the horse was gaining ground on its own without any assistance from the rider; and the answers we got from Robinson, you know, were not plausible,” Metcalfe further said.

The stewards imposed the maximum penalty, highlighting the racing commission’s zero-tolerance policy. Metcalfe said that this policy aims to uphold the integrity of horse racing in Jamaica by ensuring fair competition and deterring any potential corruption.

“So the stewards gave the maximum penalty. As you know, the racing commission has advised a zero-tolerance [approach], and we’re trying to ensure that the standard of racing is lifted. And if there is any chance of corruption at all, we have to ensure the integrity of the horse racing sport in Jamaica,” the chairman said.

Metcalfe said that the suspension serves as another warning to jockeys. He also said that the racing commission is determined to maintain a high standard of racing and will take swift action against any jockey who is found to have compromised the integrity of the sport.

Despite repeated attempts via telephone, Phillip Parchment, president of the Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild, was unreachable for comment on the suspension of Robinson.

Several high-profile incidents in the past have also shaken the horse racing community, sparking debates about fair play and integrity.

Jockey Jerome Innis was given a 25-race day suspension for failing to ensure that his mount Whisky performed optimally in the third race at Caymanas Park on June 2, 2024. Whisky, the overwhelming favourite entering the race, finished fourth.

On March 7, 2023 female jockey Samantha Fletcher was suspended for 25 race days for not riding her mount on merit. The incident happened on February 4 when Fletcher rode Gone A Negril in the seventh race on the day, finishing seventh. Fletcher later appealed the decision and her suspension was reduced by five days.

Former champion jockey Anthony Thomas faced heavy scrutiny for his ride on Blu Attitude in the ninth and final race on March 18, 2023. Thomas rose in the saddle as his horse gained pace on eventual winner Loose Cannon in the closing stages of the race, in which he finished second by three-quarters of a length. The JRC ultimately accepted his explanation for the controversial finish. It was said that Thomas told the committee he had sand in his eyes, and that Blu Attitude had shown signs of being lame.

Expeditious (foreground), with Kerry-Gayl Robinson aboard, gets the better of Buzz Assault and Daniel Thompson in the opening event on August 6, 2024. (Photos: Observer file)