Trainer Mendez hit with added $500 fine

TRAINER Glenn Mendez was fined an additional $500 and issued a stern warning by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority. This stems from behaviour by Mendez, thought to be unbecoming of a professional trainer in the Jockeys Room, after the running of an event on the Arima Race Club ‘Friday Lime’ card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima,  on June 20.

The triple crown winning trainer, who was fined $500 for the offence by the stewards of the ARC, who referred the matter to the TTRA for further action. And Mendez was warned he must desist from such behaviour and told any reccurrence would be more severely dealth with. The decision was taken by TTRA on Wednesday after giving due consideration to the evidence of trainer Mendez, as well as Cedric Coussement, a steward of the club, a security officer at  the Jockeys Room and an executive of the Jockeys’ Association. The TTRA was of the view that Mendez acted in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing, and in breach of Rules 69 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Racing.

Also on Wednesday the TTRA dealt with an appeal by jockey Rajpaul Rajkumar against the decision of the stewards to fine him $500 fine and suspend him for three days,  for his ride aboard Sea Spider on the Day 16 of their current season on May 30. After hearing evidence from Rajkumar  and steward Winston Govia, the TTRA found there was no justification in  altering the original decision. So Rajkumar will begin serving his three-day suspension after tomorrow’s 10-race programme for which he is booked for seven rides. Apprentice Naim Samaroo was also given a one-day ban after admission of his unprofessional behaviour in view of the public. Samaroo will also be allowed to ride tomorrow, with his ban coming into effect from the next scheduled race day.

Jockey Ryan Thomas, who was also referred to the TTRA after being slapped with a $350 fine for his ride aboard Yankee Eagle, escaped with a stern warning but the fine stood. Rajkumar had another appeal against  a $250 fine for irresponsible riding, regarding an incident involving the horse Hatrick, adjourned to a date to be fixed.