Queensland jockey has a win over white powder video

Jockey Amy Graham has successfully appealed a key charge relating to a leaked video that showed her snorting a white powder at a private gathering, citing similar circumstances with star Victorian jockey Jamie Melham.

Newscorp reported that the Queensland Racing Appeals Panel (QRAP) found Graham not guilty of breaching Australian Racing Rule 228(a), which relates to conduct prejudicial to the image and interests of racing.

The panel drew on a high-profile precedent involving Victorian jockey Jamie Melham, who faced a similar situation in 2023.

In its written findings, the QRAP concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove that Graham was aware she was being filmed at the time. The panel noted that while Graham’s behaviour was “foolish, reckless and risk-taking,” it did not meet the threshold for a rule breach without proof that she consented to being recorded.

“The evidence… does not establish to the required standard that the recording was made with her knowledge or consent,” the panel stated.

Graham had argued that the video – which was recorded at her private residence during a gathering in November 2023 – was shared without her knowledge. The panel found that, like Melham, the footage did not involve the conduct of racing or occur in a public setting.

Despite being cleared on the prejudicial conduct charge, Graham’s conviction under a separate charge — AR 232(i) for giving false or misleading evidence to stewards — was upheld. As a result, her original four-month ban was reduced to three months.

Graham has not faced any criminal charges in connection with the incident. Two other jockeys were also sanctioned by stewards in relation to the same event.