Jockey Blake Shinn has been hit with an ‘astronomical’ fine – the biggest allowed under rules – just for going to the pub.
The top Australian jockey must fork out a whopping £61,240 for breaching Covid protocols in Hong Kong, where he currently races.
Shinn, 34, was said to have ‘attended a number of bars’ while serving a careless riding ban.
Under Hong Kong’s strict Covid rules, the movement of jockeys remains severely restricted.
Shinn was reported to have visited several pubs and nightclubs between May 29 and June 5 – all of which were off limits at the time.
The Melbourne Cup-winning rider pleaded guilty to acting in a manner ‘prejudicial to the proper conduct of horse racing’.
One photo posted on Shinn’s Instagram account on May 30 showed him lounging round with mates at a restaurant.
He wrote alongside the photo: “Care factor 0 #suspendedlife.”
Another photo on May 23 showed him enjoying a cigar in a restaurant.
Slamming Shinn’s actions, Hong Kong Jockey Club chief steward Kim Kelly said: “By recklessly contravening the club-mandated Covid protocols when attending a number of bars during the aforementioned period, he did place at significant risk the measures imposed by the club to ensure the continuation of horse racing.
“After considering all the relevant matters associated with penalty including but not limited to the significant potential ramifications of a breach of the rules and protocols upon racing continuing and the need for deterrence, the stewards were of the opinion that a fine of $600,000 [£61,250] was the appropriate penalty.”
Australian racing media called the fine ‘astronomical’.
In response to the punishment, Shinn said: “I’m definitely going to hang around until the end of the season and do my best to end things on a high note.
“I’m determined to put this behind me and finish the season the right way.”
The rider, who has won three Group 1s this season, is returning home in the summer.
Shinn has said he wants to prioritise his mental health after living through months of lockdown and strict restrictions.
Incredibly, Shinn is the third person in racing to be hit with the giant fine this season.
Trainers Dennis Yip and Frankie Lor were also stung to the tune of £60,000 for breaching ‘racing bubble’ rules.
