Monday, 17 October 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
Thoroughbred – Stewards’ Inquiry – Jockey Alan Kennedy-Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club – Sunday, 27 September 2015.
RWWA Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the reason for Jockey Alan Kennedy recording a concentration of alcohol in excess of 0.02% when undergoing routine breath analysis testing prior to the meeting at the Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club on Sunday, 27 September 2015.
On the day of the offence, Mr Kennedy was stood down immediately under the provisions of AR.81A(3) pending the determination of the inquiry and was replaced by another rider for his riding engagement.
Mr Kennedy pleaded guilty to a charge under AR.81A(1)(a) for providing a breath sample which upon analysis was found to contain alcohol at a concentration in excess of 0.02%.
Mr Kennedy subsequently had his Jockeys Licence suspended for a period of six (6) months with the penalty backdated to the date of the offence. Mr Kennedy was informed that the first three (3) months of this penalty was to be served in full, meaning he is not permitted to ride in any capacity. Following this, Mr Kennedy will be permitted to resume riding trackwork only for a period of two (2) months on the condition that he undergoes counselling as per the official RWWA policy and provides samples free of any banned substances. After this, Stewards will then consider allowing Mr Kennedy to resume riding in trials before returning to race riding at the expiration of his full penalty.
In determining penalty Stewards took into account:
The seriousness of the offence
The high level recorded
Mr Kennedy’s prior record which showed an offence under the same rule in May 2011
His guilty plea and personal circumstances