- Noel Callow loses appeal to have ban overturned
Veteran Jockey Noel Callow has been unsuccessful in an appeal to have his 10-month ban for using ‘racially charged’ language overturned.
Callow was given two five-month disqualifications to be served cumulatively after he pleaded guilty to two charges of conduct detrimental to the interests of racing, following videos of the jockey ridiculing an Indigenous man surfaced.
Matthew Stirling, Callow’s legal counsel, argued that a ‘four to six-week’ penalty was appropriate before the huge ban was handed down.
On Monday, during his appeal bid, Stirling argued that the ‘penalty was excessive in the circumstances and far beyond the established tariff for such conduct where racing participants have regularly been suspended for four to six weeks’.
Stirling also claimed that the penalty in relation to the first charge should have been a fine, as the statements from Callow were rude and offensive, rather than racist.
He also requested that the Queensland Racing Appeals Panel (QRAP) consider the jockey’s remorse, his attempts to address personal problems and his efforts at rehabilitation.
Jockey Noel Callow (pictured) has been unsuccessful in an appeal to have his ban overturned
Callow is a five-time Group 1-winning jockey with 1,632 career wins
Jim Murdoch KC, representing the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, said that a significant penalty is necessary due to the serious nature of the offences.
The Appeals Panel agreed with Murdoch, upholding the original decision to disqualify Callow for 10-months.
‘The comments made by the Applicant were derogatory and humiliating and they had undoubted racist overtones,’ the decision read.
‘By its very nature, such conduct is to be deprecated and must be denounced. Alcohol was no doubt an influencing factor, particularly in relation to the second incident in time.
‘That may go some way to explaining, though not excusing, the conduct.
‘As the stewards properly recognised, it is a feature of aggravation that the events were recorded and ‘published’ by the applicant.
‘Thoroughbred racing relies heavily on the confidence of the public and industry stakeholders.
‘When racist or other offensive behaviour is recorded and widely circulated, it has the capacity to undermine that confidence.’
Callow, 50, is a veteran rider with 1,632 career wins, having won jockeys premierships from Melbourne to Singapore, but has a number of controversial moments in his past.
