Official Jamaica Racing Commission release on suspension, fine of jockey Shane Ellis

Jockey Shane Ellis
Jockey Shane Ellis

INVESTIGATION INTO JOCKEY SHANE ELLIS’ BREACH OF RULE 143 OF THE JAMAICA RACING COMMISSION. RACING RULES 1977

On Thursday August, 27 2020, The Jamaica Racing Commission conducted an investigation into a report from the Operations Stewards that Jockey Shane Ellis had breached Rule 143 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977.

The initial investigation was conducted on Tuesday July 21, 2020 by the Operations Stewards panel, wherein reports and evidence from the following entities were examined;

  1. Post to Post Betting Limited.

  2. Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited

  3. Betting Gaming & Lotteries Commission which stated that Jockey Shane Ellis had purchased bets from Post to Post Betting Limited. The report further suggested a suspicion of event manipulation by Jockey Ellis (which had resulted in winnings accrued from the bets being withheld) as well as him committing a breach of the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977.

After hearing submissions from the respective parties and reviewing the evidence, the panel handed down their decisions as follows:

  1. The panel noted Jockey Shane Ellis admission regarding purchasing the bet “tickets” on behalf of a Mr Donald Foster.

  2. The Panel indicated that the Commission had no jurisdiction over betting /gambling.

  3. There was no evidence of event manipulation.

  4. Jockey Shane Ellis had indeed breached Rule 143 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977;

“No Jockey shall bet on any race except through the owner of and on the horse which he rides, and any jockey who shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Commission to have any interest in any race horse or to have been engaged in any betting transaction except as permitted by this Rule or to have received a present from any person other than the owner of the horse which he is riding shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules.”

They further ruled that Jockey Shane’s Ellis action would be referred to the full Commission for determination as the breach in their opinion required a punishment in excess of their powers.

The matter was thereafter heard by the Commission on Thursday 27, August 2020. The Commission after considering the evidence, including an admission by Jockey Shane Ellis that he had purchased the bets:

  • Accepted the findings of the Stewards, that Jockey Shane Ellis had breached Rule 143 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Rules 1977.

  • Imposed a fine of Seventy-five Thousand dollars ($75,000.00) on Jockey Shane Ellis to be paid within 30 days.

  • Suspended Jockey Shane Ellis from riding for five (5) Race days with effect from the 5th September 2020.

  • Declared that Jockey Shane Ellis should not benefit from the winnings derived from the bets and therefore any winnings that might accrue or arise from such bets should be paid over to a charity within the Racing Industry as determined by the Commission.

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