Bajan court clears Harding, Emamalie

BRIDGETOWN, Barba-dos: The High Court of Barbados has declared null and void the decision of the Barbados Turf Club to suspend jockeys Brian Harding and Hanif Emamalie, and impose US$500 fines on each for not riding on an “unfit” Garrison Savannah race track on February 14 Mr Justice Sherman Moore announced the decision in the No 5 Supreme Court on Monday, ruling that the two jockeys were entitled to know what charges were brought against them and be given a fair hearing before the fines and penalties were imposed.

The two jockeys were also awarded cost against the BTC, after Harding and Emamalie commenced actions in the High Court against the BTC following a decision by a number of jockeys not to ride on February 14 because of what they believed were unsafe track conditions. As a result, the entire day’s programme was cancelled and the BTC responded by suspending and fining jockeys who chose not to ride.