Racing: Apprentices face misconduct charges

Four of New Zealand's leading apprentice jockeys face misconduct charges involving a female apprentice.

Jason Waddell, Troy Harris, Chad Ormsby and Chris Carmine face a hearing at Te Rapa in Hamilton on Tuesday next week, all involving incidents off the racetrack.

"It all relates to recent incidents involving a female apprentice," New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Inspector Bryan McKenzie said.

McKenzie said Harris and Ormsby face two charges, one involving cellphone text messaging and one involving property and a motor vehicle.

He said Waddell was charged for the text messaging incident only and Carmine for the incident involving property and the motor vehicle.

Penalties for misconduct include a suspension and fine, or disqualification from all racing for serious offences.

Harris and Ormsby have been stood down from riding until the hearing by their employers, Matamata trainers Mark Walker and Lance O'Sullivan respectively.

Waddell, apprenticed to his Otaki-based father Noel, also isn't riding at today's Rotorua meeting while Carmine, apprenticed to Mike Moroney at Matamata, is booked for just one ride at the meeting.

Waddell won the country's main race on Saturday, the group one New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha, aboard the impressive Walker-trained Arlingtonboulevard.

He also faces another misconduct hearing in coming weeks.

He pleaded not guilty to a misconduct charge after this month's Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes when fellow jockey Cameron Lammas alleged Waddell tried to knock him over the running rail after the winning post.

A date is yet to be set for the hearing to allow Waddell, currently the country's leading apprentice with 49 winners, to prepare his case.

Waddell won last year's New Zealand apprentices premiership and had a riding stint in Singapore with former top New Zealand trainer Laurie Laxon.

- NZPA