Jockey who gave horse electric shocks to make it run faster convicted and fined £2,700 in case that’s appalled racing
A JOCKEY who gave a horse electric shocks to make it run faster has been hit with a criminal conviction.
Former champion apprentice Ric McMahon has also been fined £2,700 by a court in Australia, in a case that has appalled racing.
A jigger – an electrical device used to shock horses into running faster – is banned in racing but a jockey has been given a criminal conviction for using one
McMahon pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited item after a racetrack photographer just happened to capture an image of the device
McMahon was photographed apparently holding the ‘jigger’ – an electrical device which shocks a horse into running faster – in August.
The jockey, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited item at a licenced venue, according to abc.net.au.
A photographer just happened to capture McMahon apparently holding the jigger at Birdsville racetrack in Queensland, Australia.
Racing bosses moved swiftly to ban McMahon and trainer Todd Austin.
The jockey appeared via telephone link in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on Monday.
Magistrate Eoin Mac Giolla Ri said the jockey should have known the sick device was banned.
They said: “It must be notorious that it is prohibited.”
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission are conducting their own investigation into what happened.
Sadly this is not the first time jiggers have made headlines.
Last September jockey Tomas Mejia was banned for ten years and fined £3,600 for using the awful device.
Incredibly, a photo of Mejia holding the jigger had been posted on Monmouth Park racecourse’s official Facebook page to celebrate his first winner since returning from injury in July.
An investigation was launched after eagle-eyed punters spotted the object.
The probe, which referred to the photographic evidence, ruled: “Upon entering the winners’ circle and prior to dismounting from the horse Strongerthanuknow on September 3, 2021, Tomas Mejia was in possession of a prohibited electrical device.”
