Top Sydney jockey banned over betting scandal

Leading Sydney jockey Tommy Berry has been banned from racing for more than 12 months over a betting scandal.

Berry, 31, fronted a NSW stewards hearing on Tuesday where he was disqualified for 11 months and two weeks for “accepting a consideration”.

He has also been suspended for a further four weeks for mobile phone offences. Jockeys are not permitted to use mobile phones inside the rooms during a race meeting.

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Stewards found Gold Coast butcher and big-time punter Zaid Miller transferred $15,000 to a family member of Berry’s after he won more than $100,000 on races following advice from the jockey.

Berry is set to appeal his disqualification.

He is one of the best-known and well-liked hoops in NSW, having won 34 Group 1 races and more than 1500 first-placings to his name throughout his career.

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