Michelle Payne, the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, has been banned from racing in New South Wales after the state’s racing board upheld its ban of jockeys who also hold trainer’s licences.
The issue came to a head this month when Payne was barred from riding the horse Grey Street at Randwick because she held a dual licence to ride and train in Victoria.
Not allowed to ride in NSW because of dual license. Are they serious?
— Michelle Payne (@mj_payne) October 4, 2016
Racing Victoria introduced dual licences in November 2015, with Payne one of the first to apply. They took effect on 1 August this year.
But under Racing NSW policy, people with dual licences in another jurisdiction are only permitted to start horses in the state as trainers, not jockeys. The same position applies in Queensland.
Victorian racing officials challenged the position but Racing NSW has resolved to stand by its ban on all jockeys who also hold trainer’s licences from competing in the state.
On Wednesday it issued a statement in which it said it would not amend the rules on the “strong recommendation” of its stewards of the “integrity issues associated with dual licences”.
Peter V’landys, chief executive of Racing NSW, said maintaining punters’ confidence in thoroughbred racing was paramount.
“This decision is no reflection upon Michelle Payne, for whom we have the utmost admiration and respect,” he said. “However, we have to look beyond the individual when we believe that there are concerns related to integrity and perception of our industry.”
Payne tweeted that she “would love to know the integrity problems” Racing NSW considered the potential risks of allowing licensed trainers to ride.
I would love to know the integrity problems @racing_nsw thinks they might face with the licence to train and the seperate licence to ride?
— Michelle Payne (@mj_payne) October 19, 2016
The general manager of the Australian Jockeys Association, Des O’Keeffe, told Guardian Australia that the association intended to continue to press the issue with Racing NSW.
“We’re perplexed that there’s been no explanation as to what real or perceived integrity issues could be with a jockey also qualifying as a trainer’s licence.”
He said “numerous conditions” were in place under the code developed by Racing Victoria and that had been mirrored by racing bodies in all other states and territories, bar NSW and Queensland.
“They’ve dealt with all possible real or perceived integrity issues that could possibly arise from this, and therefore we’re looking forward to hear what Racing NSW believes hasn’t been addressed by their contemporary principle racing authorities.”
The AJA included Racing Victoria’s policy in its submission to the Racing NSW board on the issue. “Obviously that didn’t sway them,” said O’Keeffe, adding: “It’s quite perplexing that we don’t have national standards in this area.”
Payne beat odds of 100-1 when she rode Prince of Penzance to victory in November last year, becoming the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup in its 155-year history and only the fourth female jockey ever to ride in it.
With this year’s race less than two weeks away, Payne is aiming for back-to-back wins.
On Wednesday she reportedly emerged from the jockeys’ room at the Geelong Cup having approached people associated with the winning horse and runner-up.
