Op-ed by David Safi
Gavin Lerena went to work as he always does on that fateful day. He had one intention in mind and that was to do his best; as he always does.
A quick glance at his stats show how good his best is - high above the considered good of 20 percent of rides to win and much much higher percentage of “in the money rides”. He rode a fancied supported runner that Gates had no right to interfere with.
During the running Gavin moved up on the outside of Jason Gates. Gates then keeps him outside and carries him to the worst going. Gavin in wanting to do his best tried to move to the inside - something that Jason should have also wanted to do.
Yet, Jason refuses to budge and keeps Gavin and himself out of the better going which alone raises questions about Jason’s thinking.
Jason is on an 66/1 outsider. Form studiers, odds makers and handicappers understand the meaning of form and Jason Gate's mount had run 9 times up to then and was beaten more than 125l collectively. Gavin's mount had run 3 times placing in all three and has since won.
When Gavin gets close to Jason, Jason deliberately and knowingly whips Gavin and Gavin’s mount. Anyone who thinks Jason did not know Gavin was there and that he closed his eyes and whipped wildly around hitting Gavin by mistake knows nothing about riding a horse.
Gavin, then having enough of this bush racing tactic, reacts to Jason. Many a young jockey in many countries have had senior jockeys lashing them on the back when they transgress the rules. I have heard dozens of these stories throughout the years from champion jockeys that have schooled the dangerous reckless riders in the same manner.
In any court of law in the Western World they consider mitigating circumstances or factors.
A quick Google search reads: "A greater degree of provocation than normally expected."
There is no doubt that Gavin was not expecting to be carried out and furthermore he was defiantly not expecting to be whipped or to have his mount whipped. So his reaction to the provocation is understandable.
Intimidation is a form of interference.
I, as a punter, want my jockey to be focused on winning or get the best possible placing. It is not on how to take out a personal grudge against another rider in the race.
The betting public's money has to be respected, as well as the connections of the runners. Jason is far more guilty on that day than Gavin was.