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Racing NSW Stewards today inquired into the results of a sample of breath provided by licenced jockey Jackson Morris at Ballina Racecourse on Thursday, 26 December 2024.

At that meeting jockey Morris was stood down by Stewards prior to fulfilling any riding engagements.

Subsequent breath analyses conducted by Stewards revealed a reading in excess of the concentration of alcohol permitted under the Rules of Racing.

Charge: AR139(1)(a) – Offences where riders use banned substances

The details of the charge being that licensed jockey Mr Jackson Morris, breached AR 139(1)(a) by reason of the following particulars:

1. He did accept riding engagements at the Ballina Jockey Club race meeting on Thursday, 26 December 2024.
2. On Thursday, 26 December 2024 he attended Ballina Racecourse with the intention of fulfilling his riding engagements.
3. Racing NSW Stewards took a sample of his breath with a breath analysing instrument, in accordance with their powers under AR22(h).
4. The sample’s he provided were found, upon analysis, to have a concentration of alcohol that was in excess of the level permitted under the Rules of Racing.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty

The Stewards considered the following matters when determining an appropriate penalty:

• Mr Morris is the holder of a dual licence as both a jockey and a trainer.
• Guilty plea and cooperation with Stewards throughout the proceedings.
• Professional and personal circumstances.
• Apparent remorse
• Disciplinary History
• Principles of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct.
• Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Penalty: 5 months suspension of his jockey licence to ride in races, reduced to 4 months suspension for his guilty plea and other relevant considerations as set out above. Accordingly, he was suspended for a period to commence on Thursday, 26 December 2024, the day on which he was stood down and to expire on Saturday, 26 April 2025, on which day he may resume riding.

A primary consideration in determining the penalty issued was that the suspension does not impact Mr Morris’ entitlement to continue training horses or riding trackwork.

Jackson Morris was advised that, upon the production of satisfactory evidence of him having committed to professional counselling, Stewards would stay 1 month of that penalty under AR141(1), meaning such suspension will expire on Wednesday, 26 March 2025 and be 3 months in total.

Mr Morris was advised of his rights of appeal.

Relevant Rules

AR139(1)(a) Offences where riders use banned substances

(1) A rider breaches these Australian Rules if:
  (a) a banned substance under AR 136(1) is detected in a sample taken from the rider

AR136(1) Banned substances in relation to riders

(1) Unless otherwise stated in these Australian Rules, the following substances and/or their metabolites, artefacts and isomers are specified as banned substances in riders when detected in a urine sample at a concentration above the respective threshold level:

(f) alcohol (at a blood alcohol concentration in excess of 0.02% (that is, 20 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood) on a breath analysing instrument)

AR 141 Stewards may impose a stay on a banned substance offence penalty

(1) The Stewards may stay the operation of any penalty imposed for a breach of AR136(1) or AR 137(1) in whole or in part, and for a period of time and under the terms and conditions they think fit.

 - Tara Vanderstok (Deputy Chief Steward-Northern Rivers Racing Association, Racing NSW)