Leading local jockey Stanley K.M. Chin has appealed against the $5,000 fine levied on him following the lengthy inquiry into the Monza overweight incident.
After three meetings spread over two weeks and lasting a number of hours, the stewards fined Chin, who weighed in 2.7 lbs over his weight when weighing out, and also advised the clerk of the scales and his assistant to exercise more care.
Robert Mak, assistant trainer to Peter Ho, was fined $1,000.
The protracted inquiry attracted attention because it was relatively rare. Attention centred on the fact that Chin was weighed in at 116 lbs but a supplementary reading adjusted this figure to 117.6 lbs - and this formed the basis for the inquiry.
As Monza carried over his allotted weight to victory there was no question of race placings being altered but the relevant rule states the jockey shall be reported.
Chin's case revolves around being correctly weighed out and then officially weighed in at 116 lbs before this was subsequently corrected to 117.6 lbs. It is understood that this is without precedent since racing began at Sha Tin in 1978.
