Lisa Cropp disqualified from racing - fined $92,000

Jockey Lisa Cropp has been disqualified from all facets of racing for nine months and ordered to pay a fine of $7,500 and costs of $92,000.

The penalty was announced yesterday by racing's Judicial Control Authority which in April found Cropp guilty of breaching racing's rules after she tested positive to methamphetamine at a race meeting in 2005.

Her disqualification is to begin from June 25, the delay to enable her to make arrangements to relocate horses she has in training on her property.

Her disqualification runs until 24 March.

She fought the case through the courts on legal grounds before it went back to a JCA committee, which found her guilty of one serious racing charge.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's lawyer Simon Moore said at oral submissions on her penalty that Cropp should receive the maximum penalty of 12 months disqualification and a fine of $10,000.

He said methamphetamine could be dangerous to other jockeys and horses and could give her a competitive advantage and its use needed to be deterred.

Mr Moore said it was also significant that she never expressed remorse and prolonged the legal fight for many years while able to still ride.