Latest News

Racing NSW Stewards today continued an inquiry opened on Saturday, 15 April 2023 in respect of Regan Bayliss’s riding of Pride Of Jenni in Race 6 (JRA Plate, 2000m) conducted that day.

On Monday, 17 April 2023 Mr T Ottobre, managing part-owner of Pride of Jenni, submitted a written submission to Stewards in which he detailed a complaint in respect of Regan Bayliss’ riding of the mare. 

Evidence today was taken from Regan Bayliss, co-trainer of Pride Of Jenni Mr David Eustace and Mr T Ottobre. A report conducted by Racing NSW Form and Betting Steward Mr Harrison Smithers and sectional analysis of the race were also considered. 

Jockey Bayliss pleaded not guilty to being in breach of AR129(2) for having failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that Pride Of Jenni was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field by reason of the following particulars;  

  (1) He is a licensed jockey for the current 2022/2023 racing season. 

  (2) Prior to the race he was provided with instructions from managing part-owner Mr T Ottobre on how he was to ride the mare. This was by the provision of a WhatsApp message via the mobile phone of a stable representative. 

  (3) After establishing a lead of some 4 lengths by the 1600m, in accordance with his instructions, from that point until the 800m he did then allow PRIDE OF JENNI to establish a considerable margin whilst setting an extremely fast pace when it was open to him to have steadied the mare to a greater degree throughout that section of the race to set a more sustainable tempo when it was both reasonable and permissible for him to have done so. 

  (4) As a result of his failure to ride PRIDE OF JENNI in the manner detailed in particular 3, PRIDE OF JENNI was not given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing in the field. 

 After considering all relevant evidence and further submissions, Stewards found Regan Bayliss guilty of the charge. 

Penalty 
Having considered all relevant matters in respect to penalty, including that this was the first occasion Regan Bayliss had been issued a charge of a similar offence in over 10 years of riding, his licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of 19 days to commence on Monday, 1 May 2023 and to expire on Saturday, 20 May 2023 on which day he may ride.  

Relevant Rule 
AR 129 Running and handling  

1. A rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field. 

  - S G Railton (Chairman of Stewards)