hobbes
23-02-2002, 02:42
Tips costly for trainer
By Ken Martinus
22 February 2002 / 01:18 AM
THE career of assistant trainer Raymond Tsui is in tatters following the decision of Jockey Club stewards yesterday to suspend his licence for 18 weeks.
Tsui was charged with passing information on horses to a member of the Jockey Club for monetary gain, a clear breach of his contract.
The stewards indicated they had no authority to deal with the member, who was unnamed. His case will be turned over to the club's membership committee.
The suspension came just four days after Tsui and three other assistant trainers were interviewed by chief stipendiary steward John Schreck for one of the new trainer's licence to be issued this weekend. Tsui had been considered one of the front-runners.
According to reliable sources, the case is not linked to any other inquiry conducted by the stewards and did not involve bookmaking. Schreck did not say who had made the charge against Tsui and the club member.
``The particulars of the charge were that Tsui, as a licensed assistant trainer, had over recent months provided information regarding horses from the stable of Alex Wong Yu-on, the stable to which he is attached, and from other stables to a member of the club in return for monetary considerations,'' Schreck said.
Tsui pleaded guilty to the charge, which is covered by Rule 151(6) of he Rules of Racing.
His licence as an assistant trainer was suspended until July 1, two weeks after the end of the current racing season.
Schreck said that in ascertaining the appropriate penalty, stewards took into consideration Tsui's guilty plea.
``It is obviously not mandatory to reduce the penalty imposed simply because a guilty plea is submitted, but it is a discretion stewards would like to exercise wherever possible,'' Schreck said.
``A plea of guilty should be looked up on evidence of contrition and there was clearly regret in Tsui's case.
``So far as the involvement of the member is concerned, the full transcript of the proceedings will be forwarded to the membership committee for any action that they may deem necessary.''
Racing director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said it would be improper for him to make any comment as Tsui had 48 hours in which to lodge an appeal.
Tsui is a graduate of the Jockey Club's apprentices' programme and rode with a fair amount of success in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, in January 1995, with compatriots Little Hung and Johnny Ho, Tsui retired from riding and went overseas to study stable management. He returned to Hong Kong to take up employment as an assistant trainer.
Tsui's case, while not in the same league as the Independent Commission Against Corruption's pre-Lunar New Year raids, once again puts the Jockey Club under the microscope even as they are battling off-shore gaming operators and illegal bookmakers.
In recent years, the club have put in place a top team of professionals to protect the integrity of racing. The recent cases could also be seen as a sign that they are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to do so.
By Ken Martinus
22 February 2002 / 01:18 AM
THE career of assistant trainer Raymond Tsui is in tatters following the decision of Jockey Club stewards yesterday to suspend his licence for 18 weeks.
Tsui was charged with passing information on horses to a member of the Jockey Club for monetary gain, a clear breach of his contract.
The stewards indicated they had no authority to deal with the member, who was unnamed. His case will be turned over to the club's membership committee.
The suspension came just four days after Tsui and three other assistant trainers were interviewed by chief stipendiary steward John Schreck for one of the new trainer's licence to be issued this weekend. Tsui had been considered one of the front-runners.
According to reliable sources, the case is not linked to any other inquiry conducted by the stewards and did not involve bookmaking. Schreck did not say who had made the charge against Tsui and the club member.
``The particulars of the charge were that Tsui, as a licensed assistant trainer, had over recent months provided information regarding horses from the stable of Alex Wong Yu-on, the stable to which he is attached, and from other stables to a member of the club in return for monetary considerations,'' Schreck said.
Tsui pleaded guilty to the charge, which is covered by Rule 151(6) of he Rules of Racing.
His licence as an assistant trainer was suspended until July 1, two weeks after the end of the current racing season.
Schreck said that in ascertaining the appropriate penalty, stewards took into consideration Tsui's guilty plea.
``It is obviously not mandatory to reduce the penalty imposed simply because a guilty plea is submitted, but it is a discretion stewards would like to exercise wherever possible,'' Schreck said.
``A plea of guilty should be looked up on evidence of contrition and there was clearly regret in Tsui's case.
``So far as the involvement of the member is concerned, the full transcript of the proceedings will be forwarded to the membership committee for any action that they may deem necessary.''
Racing director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said it would be improper for him to make any comment as Tsui had 48 hours in which to lodge an appeal.
Tsui is a graduate of the Jockey Club's apprentices' programme and rode with a fair amount of success in the 1980s and 1990s.
However, in January 1995, with compatriots Little Hung and Johnny Ho, Tsui retired from riding and went overseas to study stable management. He returned to Hong Kong to take up employment as an assistant trainer.
Tsui's case, while not in the same league as the Independent Commission Against Corruption's pre-Lunar New Year raids, once again puts the Jockey Club under the microscope even as they are battling off-shore gaming operators and illegal bookmakers.
In recent years, the club have put in place a top team of professionals to protect the integrity of racing. The recent cases could also be seen as a sign that they are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to do so.