Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted September 13, 2020 Journalists Share Posted September 13, 2020 From Saturday's Stewards Report Riccarton: GENERAL: When tested following the running of Race 1 rider C Johnson returned a breath alcohol reading in excess of that allowed under the provisions of Rule 656(4) and was stood down for the remainder of day. An inquiry was opened and adjourned until a date to be set. Then he got done for being overweight although if he was already stood down after race 1 how can he get done for races 4 and 5? 4&5 C Johnson BOYSLIGHTUP and TOP GHIA $100 [Rule 330(3)(c)] Unable to make weight 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bloggs Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 If they put the bag on trainers and jocks at the training tracks most mornings the place would be empty.....I'm talking from experience, not to mention hooch as well.......never ever saw an RIU person at the track.........ah the Louisiana bayous are alive and well for the good ole boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 Apparently the threshold is half that of driving a car. So theoretically a jockey could safely drive to work and be under the limit but be over the limit for riding a horse. LOL Chris probably rides a horse better than he drives a car! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 48 minutes ago, Noodlum said: Apparently the threshold is half that of driving a car. So theoretically a jockey could safely drive to work and be under the limit but be over the limit for riding a horse. LOL Chris probably rides a horse better than he drives a car! He rides, pissed or stoned, better than most do straight. But that's not really the point, is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 18 minutes ago, Freda said: But that's not really the point, is it. How many were tested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 No idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 5 hours ago, Noodlum said: Apparently the threshold is half that of driving a car. So theoretically a jockey could safely drive to work and be under the limit but be over the limit for riding a horse. LOL Chris probably rides a horse better than he drives a car! He drove Parson's truck to the races. The threshold for riding is 100. The youth limit is 150 for driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodlum Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 12 minutes ago, curious said: He drove Parson's truck to the races. The threshold for riding is 100. The youth limit is 150 for driving. Is the breathalyser test evidential or do they take a blood test? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Think he said he wouldn't dispute it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Whyisit Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 12 hours ago, Wandering Eyes said: From Saturday's Stewards Report Riccarton: GENERAL: When tested following the running of Race 1 rider C Johnson returned a breath alcohol reading in excess of that allowed under the provisions of Rule 656(4) and was stood down for the remainder of day. An inquiry was opened and adjourned until a date to be set. Then he got done for being overweight although if he was already stood down after race 1 how can he get done for races 4 and 5? 4&5 C Johnson BOYSLIGHTUP and TOP GHIA $100 [Rule 330(3)(c)] Unable to make weight Maybe he after weighing out for race one realising he wouln't make the weight for those two races went to the stipes to tell them he couldn't make the weight so it gave a chance for connections to engage another jockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newmarket Posted September 16, 2020 Share Posted September 16, 2020 He needs low alcohol beer that is low carbs, then he would have been sweet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 He do On 9/16/2020 at 8:02 PM, Newmarket said: He needs low alcohol beer that is low carbs, then he would have been sweet!! Just watching that ride at Ashburton I dont think he needs anything,just keep doing what hes doing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 He must be getting close to that record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 3 hours ago, mikeynz said: He do Just watching that ride at Ashburton I dont think he needs anything,just keep doing what hes doing. Just give him the cattle and he gets the job done. Bourbon nightcap or not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: He must be getting close to that record. Think he's now got nine to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shad Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Break away may do him some good, come back fresh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted September 22, 2020 Author Journalists Share Posted September 22, 2020 Racing: Champion New Zealand jockey Chris Johnson speaks out after failing breathalyser test at Riccarton race meeting 13 Sep, 2020 3:00pm 4 minutes to read Chris Johnson. Photo / Paul Taylor. NZ Herald By: Michael Guerin Champion jockey Chris Johnson is adamant he wasn't drunk when stood down from riding for failing a breathalyser test at Riccarton on Saturday. But the 56-year-old on the verge of setting a new record for domestic wins by a New Zealand jockey says he won't argue with the results of the test that will almost certainly see him suspended for at least a month. Johnson was breathalysed after finishing third in the first race at Riccarton and says his level was 145mcg, falling to 130mcg for his next test 10 minutes later. While the Racing Integrity Unit steward in charge of the meeting John Oatham would not confirm Johnson's exact readings, he said Johnson's claims were close enough to accurate. While a driver of a motor vehicle over 20 is considered under the limit up until 250mcg, for jockeys riding in races or trials that limit is 100mcg so the stewards had no option but to stand Johnson down. Johnson isn't arguing with their actions or the readings but the one-time flawed genius man of New Zealand racing says he had not been drinking heavily the night before and definitely hadn't drunk on the day of the races. "I had a few on Friday night, a couple of beers and some bourbons but nothing serious. I was in bed by 11pm," says Johnson, who has battled alcoholism in the past. "The problem was I didn't eat. I was wasting (trying to quickly drop weight) so I could ride a couple of horses at 54kgs so I didn't have dinner on Friday night and no breakfast on Saturday. "And I spent an hour in the spa to get some weight off in the morning so when I got to the races I must have had the alcohol still in my system but I definitely wasn't drunk or impaired. "I actually drove the truck to the races because I was fine." Johnson, who tested positive for cannabis at a trial meeting in 2016 and was suspended for eight weeks, has gone off the rails when drinking in the past, nearly ruining the career of one of the most naturally gifted riders in New Zealand history. He never hides from that reality and has sought help for his struggles and just a year after his 2016 drug suspension he fought back to win the national jockey's premiership. He now needs just 11 more wins to pass David Walsh for the most wins ever by a New Zealand jockey, with Walsh's record standing at 2451 victories. Having battled the demon before Johnson says he has put his wild nights behind him. "I know what it is like to go on those benders and get messed up and I don't do that anymore. Those days are gone. "I still enjoy a drink but I don't hit it hard and this definitely wasn't a case of that. "I am not saying the machine (breathalyser) was wrong so I will probably plead guilty and get a suspension. "But I am not going anywhere. I am going to keep riding and break that record." Respected trainer John Parsons, who Johnson works for part-time and rides a lot for in races, says he travelled to the races with Johnson and saw no indications he was intoxicated. "He was fine to look at and speak to and had it been a roadside driving alcohol test it wouldn't even be a factor," said Parsons. "Chris spends a lot of time with us and he seems to be fine, his drinking hasn't been a problem," says Parsons, a renowned straight shooter. Senior steward Oatham says the unusual decision to test Johnson after race one, rather than at the start of the day, was at the steward's discretion and not because of a complaint from any other industry participant. Oatham said Johnson was cooperative and while he wouldn't be drawn on a likely penalty. Suspensions of a month or six weeks have tended to be the norm for failed alcohol tests at races and trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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