The jockey Robbie Dunne has been suspended from riding for 15 days and a member of stable staff excluded from racecourses for a month over an extraordinary case in which half a pound of lead was handed to Dunne immediately after he rode a winner. Due to a mix-up with equipment before the race, Rocknrollrambo was carrying half a pound less than his allotted weight when he won a novice handicap chase at Chepstow in April 2017 by a distance of two and a quarter lengths.
At a British Horseracing Authority hearing, it was accepted that a “docker” saddle weighing 0.4lb had been inadvertently bundled up with Dunne’s saddle when he weighed out for the race. The mistake was noticed as the horse was being saddled and Barry Pearson, who led up the Ian Williams-trained horse, told Dunne that the horse was now carrying insufficient weight after helping the jockey to mount.
Pearson’s plan was evidently to fetch an extra half-pound of lead and give it to Dunne before the race, but as it proved there was not enough time. Pearson met the horse after it won and surreptitiously handed the lead piece to Dunne, who hid it in his breeches and weighed in at the correct weight.
A member of the public saw the exchange and complained to the stewards, who inquired. At the time, they interviewed Dunne and a valet and noted their explanations, but were unable to question Pearson, who had left the track. However, the BHA later examined footage of the aftermath and caught the moment of the lead being handed over.
Dunne accepted what had happened when confronted with the footage some months later. Pearson then accepted the truth of what he had done, having previously denied it when questioned by BHA investigators.
“Mr Dunne offers an unreserved apology for these events,” said the jockey’s solicitor, Rory Mac Neice. “This was an incident that should have been avoided. An attempt was made to rectify the problem before the race but time did not allow.
“Mr Dunne accepts he should then have told the starter, ‘I’m sorry, there’s an issue with my equipment, I’m going to have to reweigh.’ Afterwards, he should have told the clerk of the scales what had happened.”
Pearson, speaking by telephone, also gave a full apology for his part in the incident and for misleading an investigator. “I can’t believe I did this,” he said. “I panicked.” The former apprentice jockey said he has since left Ian Williams and now works for the trainer Kevin Frost.
The penalties facing the two men were agreed between them and the BHA. The disciplinary panel said that, as there was no premeditation and as both men had apologised in full, it would not object to the agreed penalties.
Dunne has held a licence for 11 years and won the Scottish Grand National in 2015 aboard Wayward Prince. The dates of his suspension have yet to be notified. Pearson will be able to work in a racing stable but will be prevented from going to the races for a month. Rocknrollrambo’s win is allowed to stand because the regulator was satisfied that the difference of half a pound did not affect the outcome.
Two valets, Graham Piper and Dan Fortt, have been sent a formal warning letter from the BHA in relation to the incident, reminding them of their responsibilities.