Berry fined $4000 for misleading Racing NSW stewards

Leading Sydney jockey Tommy Berry has been fined $4000 after pleading guilty to a charge of providing misleading evidence during a Racing NSW stewards’ inquiry into raceday contact with disqualified trainer John O’Shea.

The charge stemmed from Berry’s comments following Hovland’s win at Warwick Farm on June 3, which prompted stewards to investigate telephone contact between the jockey and O’Shea, who is serving a period of disqualification.

Under the Australian Rules of Racing, licensed participants are prohibited from having contact with disqualified persons in relation to racing matters, with phone records confirming Berry and O’Shea had spoken on raceday.

Stewards assessed an appropriate penalty of $6000 before reducing the sanction to a $4000 fine after taking into account Berry’s guilty plea and other mitigating factors.

The inquiry followed O’Shea’s four-month disqualification over conduct related to the scratching of Bev’s Nine at Rosehill earlier this year, with Berry remaining free to continue riding.

Stewards considered whether O’Shea had breached the prohibitions of his disqualification before deciding to take no further action. O’Shea’s disqualification is set to expire on July 17 where he can reapply for his trainer’s licence.