Racing: Innes appeal dismissed

Leith Innes

Top jockey Leith Innes has lost his appeal against the three-week suspension he received on the first day of the Wellington Cup meeting.

The appeal was heard in Palmerston North yesterday and the judicial control authority reported it had been dismissed.

Innes did not wish to comment after the verdict and neither did his lawyer Anthony Shaw.

The dismissal of the appeal means Innes is out of action up to and including February 12.

He received his suspension for his ride on Wahid in the Wellington Stakes at Trentham on January 21.

Wahid, who was paying $2.15 and the hot favourite, was first across the line in the Wellington Stakes but following an inquiry was relegated to third for causing interference.

Judicial control authority chairman John Grant said the judicial tribunal which heard the appeal found the penalty handed down on the day was not improper.

"It found the penalty imposed by the judicial committee [on the day] was neither inappropriate nor manifestly excessive," Grant said.

- NZPA