KEY POINTS:
Chris Johnson has been charged with one of racing's most serious riding offences.
Johnson was yesterday issued with a charge of not taking all permissible and reasonable measures to obtain the best finishing position on Vagabond at Wingatui on October 17.
Vagabond, fresh from a spell and the fourth favourite, finished fourth, 3.7 lengths from the winner Lady Classique.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing's stipendiary stewards yesterday advised the Judicial Control Authority, Johnson and Johnson's manager John Tannahill of the charge.
A date for the hearing has yet to be set.
In February last year Johnson faced the same charge after being beaten on Future Proof in the South Island and was later suspended and fined.
Tomorrow leading jockeys Opie Bosson and Bruce Herd face charges stemming from random drug testing held at Te Rapa races earlier this month.
The charges pertain to questions over the validity of a sample provided by Bruce Herd on the day.
It is alleged Bosson provided a sample for Herd to present, which proved to be negative.
It is understood the charges stem from a tip-off to stewards after the raceday.
