Altercation with sister followed by damning verdict from hastily convened Board

Star apprentice Roger K. H. Yu has been suspended with immediate effect and barred from Jockey Club premises following an altercation with his sister in the apprentices' hostel at Sha Tin after trackwork yesterday.

The leading apprentice has now been referred to the Licensing Committee, which will also have before it a recommendation from the Racing Department when it meets in a week's time.

Yu's career is almost certainly at an end following an unprecedented incident involving his elder sister, talented claimer Carol W. S. Yu.

Yu, who has had a troubled career and numerous brushes with authority, attempted to strike his sister but was restrained. The incident was witnessed by apprentice Howard Y. T. Cheng, who later gave evidence at a specially convened Board of Inquiry.

The Board of Inquiry found that Yu, who was due to appear before a Licensing Committee meeting yesterday afternoon, was guilty 'of a violent or improper conduct and that he had acted in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horse racing in Hong Kong'.

The inquiry, attended by the director of racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and chief stipendiary steward Clinton P. Pitts Jnr, found that Yu had 'not conducted himself in a proper and respectable manner and was guilty of an act of misconduct'.

Yu's immediate suspension means new riders will be named for four mounts at tomorrow night's Happy Valley meeting.