Racing: Harris penalty highlights flaw in disqualification rules for jockeys

Nom Du Jeu is joining Troy Harris as a racing star on a three-month holiday.

Harris got his three months on a cannabis charge this week and Nom Du Jeu returned to New Zealand to have a spell after a shocking performance in Sydney on Saturday.

"He'll have a break and be prepared for the spring," said a disappointed co-trainer Murray Baker.

Harris was one of a group of jockeys tested for prohibited drugs and alcohol at Matamata on February 21.

He returned a positive to cannabis and Leith Innes, tested the same day, was found to have the prohibited diuretic frusemide in his system.

Innes has been fined $1850 and ordered to pay costs of $250.

Harris' JCA costs came to $970.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing made submissions to the Judicial Control Authority over an issue that probably should have had attention many years ago.

Because he's disqualified and not simply suspended, Harris is not permitted to ride trackwork, attend race meetings or even be at a racetrack or training track at any time.

The net result is that the day after his disqualification ends, he is eligible to take rides but, because he hasn't been on a horse for three months, he can't possibly be fit enough.

NZTR's submissions suggest disqualified jockeys should serve the final segment of their sentences as a suspension and be allowed back to ride trackwork.

NZTR officials believe it comes down to a safety issue.

Red Ruler, who finished ahead of Nom Du Jeu in the Chipping Norton, pulled up with a leg issue that trainer John Sargent says the stable is working through.

"He's tweaked a muscle high up on a hind leg, by the hip.

"We've had a chiropractor working on him and he gets massaged each day.

"He's been working and if things go okay he'll still progress through to the Ranvet on Saturday week."

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Chief Australian handicapper Greg Carpenter is investigating the possibility of raising the minimum weights, at least for major races.

Top trainer Lee Freedman said he felt the minimum for races like the recent Newmarket Handicap should be 53kg. Two years ago, the Newmarket had a 49kg minimum and this year it was 51kg.

Carpenter said if racing's stakeholders wanted weights raised evenly, he had no specific objections.