Hoop the biggest loser

By Ben Hope
JOCKEY Craig Newitt is still at a loss to explain how he weighed in under requirement after a convincing four-length win at Cranbourne on Sunday.
After winning race three, Newitt weighed in 600 grams below the allotted 57kg for maiden winner Glenariff, 100 grams over the permitted weight discrepancy.
Newitt said he had no choice but to plead guilty to breaching rule 143, which deals with a jockey carrying less than his mount’s declared weight.
“I had to plead guilty; I definitely weighed in less so there was not much I could do about it.”
Newitt said although he had sweated a lot before the race after $2.05 favourite Glenariff had given him some trouble going to the barrier, it was not enough to account for the weight difference.
“I would have definitely lost some weight, but not that amount, it’s really got me stumped,” he said.
Racing Victoria steward Sally Miller said Newitt was weighed correctly before the race and stewards could not find any sign of gear that might have been left behind.
“The only thing that transpired before was that Craig had visited the bathroom and lost some sweat going to the barriers, usually the 500 gram allowance should allow for any weight lost this way,” Ms Miller said.
“Unfortunately once a jockey weighs in more than 500 grams underweight the rules are very rigid and the horse, no matter how far it wins by, must be disqualified.”
After winning by four lengths Newitt denied the race would have had a different outcome if his weight had been correct. “I would say one kilo less would be equivalent to about a length and a half over the distance, so the 600 grams that people have said meant the difference between holding and losing the race is unlikely,” Newitt said.
“There is no way the weight discrepancy would have changed the outcome of the race in any way, anyone in racing could tell you that.”
Newitt received a $2000 fine, in line with similar penalties issued by racing Victoria in the past.
Glenariff’s owner Kevin O’Brien lost $8775 in prize money for the first place position and the race was awarded to runner-up Delightful Minx.
Cranbourne Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge said the incident was not something that commonly occurred.
“I can’t recall the last time this happened,” Mr Bainbridge said.