Champion jockey Jamie Kah has been charged by stewards after pictures were published of her racking up a line of white powder.
Australia’s top female rider, who has not ridden since March after suffering a serious brain injury in a race fall, will have to attend a disciplinary hearing after being charged with breaching racing rules. Last month, a day after announcing she was close to returning to the saddle, photos were published of her and two friends sitting around a grey plate on a table.
In one picture, Kah's hand appears to be using a plastic card to split a mound of white powder on that plate. There is also a bag containing white power next to the plate on the kitchen top.
Kah said she was “disappointed” at the publication of the photos, saying she was focused on her recovery after spending three weeks in hospital. However, Racing Victoria conducted its own investigation and has since issued one charge against Kah and Ruby McIntyre, an employee of trainers Ciaran Mahar and David Eustace, who is alleged to have taken the photos.
They are accused of breaching the rule which states a person must not engage in “conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity, or welfare of racing, whether or not that conduct takes place within a racecourse or elsewhere.”
Summarising the events, alleged to have taken place between June 17 and 18, the stewards notice said: “Ms Kah attended a gathering at her residential premises which was also attended by Ms McIntyre and one other person
“At the gathering, Ms McIntyre recorded Ms Kah using an identification card in her hand to arrange a white powder substance into three lines. Ms McIntyre shared the recordings with a person/s not in attendance at the Gathering.
“The recordings have been widely reported both in the media and on social media, with the perception amongst persons commenting on the posts being that those in attendance at the gathering used an illicit substance.
"The stewards allege that Ms Kah and Ms McIntyre’s conduct, as outlined in the particulars, was prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity and/or welfare of racing.”
