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Background

In December 2024, Racing NSW Stewards received a complaint in respect to the alleged conduct of licensed jockey James Innes Jnr at the Eagle Hawk Hotel, Sutton on 8 December 2024.

Racing NSW Investigators commenced an investigation and obtained statements from four (4) industry participants. Closed circuit television footage (CCTV) of the alleged conduct was seized as well as further electronic evidence.

Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the alleged conduct of licensed jockey James Innes Jnr which was alleged to have occurred on the 8 December 2024 at the Eagle Hawk Hotel, Sutton.

A brief of evidence compiled by Racing NSW Investigator Anna Tabet was tendered and oral evidence was taken from Mr Damon Budler, Mr James Innes Jnr and other current industry participants.

Stewards considered the evidence and, as a result, issued one charge against Mr James Innes Jnr as follows:

Charge issued against Mr James Innes Jnr

Charge 1: AR228(b)

The details of the charge being that at 5pm on 8 December 2024 while at the Eagle Hawk Hotel Sutton, he engaged in improper conduct by forcibly taking hold of Mr Budler’s chest area and pushing him backwards resulting in him falling off a chair. Furthermore, at 5:13pm, he engaged in improper conduct by directing aggressive and improper language to Mr Budler via text message.

Plea: Guilty
Finding: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account:

- Guilty plea
- The contrition and remorse shown by Mr Innes Jnr and his willingness to accept responsibility for his conduct
- Objective seriousness of the conduct
- Mr Innes Jnr’s personal and professional circumstances
- Principle 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, interests and welfare of the Thoroughbred racing industry

Charge 1 – 4 weeks suspension of licence (in full)

Having regard to his guilty plea and other relevant considerations, Stewards ordered that the 4-week suspension be reduced to 3 weeks. Additionally, Stewards acting under AR283(5) ordered that 2 weeks of this penalty be suspended for a period of 12 months, on the basis that he is not found to be in breach of a conduct rule during this time period.

Stewards ruled the total period of suspension be 7 days, to commence on 21 January 2025 and to expire on 28 January 2025.

Mr Innes Jnr was advised of his rights of appeal.