JIMMIE, STAR Writer

Racehorse owner and breeder, Dr Paul Wright, has questioned the authority of the stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) to determine jockey Aaron Chatrie's state of mind, which led to them standing him down from his remaining mounts at Caymanas Park last Saturday.

Dr Wright has referred to Rule 7d of the Jamaica Racing Commission Act, which authorises the stewards, "To suspend a person from performing his duties at a race or race meeting after considering medical opinion on the person's health."

"They made a medical opinion on a jockey's potential to earn a living, based on non-medical evidence. That is a restraint of trade. You made a medical decision with no training. The doctor on duty was next door the stewards. Do they know whether he is a trained psychiatrist or has any training in psychiatry?" asked Wright, who previously served as doctor on duty at the racetrack for 14 years.

Operation steward Eustace Williams, who said, Chatrie had engaged in "ungentlemanly behaviour" and was deemed "a danger to himself and others", has countered Wright's referral to Rule 7d, saying the section speaks to physical health, not mental state, which, he said, turned out to be "a judgement call".

"We saw his behaviour and how he appeared. He could have been a danger to himself, other persons, and horses," Williams said of Chatrie's behaviour following WOMAN IS BOSS' disqualification last Saturday.

Wright remained adamant, however, that Chatrie was denied the right to earn a living, based on non-medical evidence.

"As far as I know, the stewards of a racemeet cannot declare a man unfit unless they get an opinion from a duly qualified medical person, after examination and diagnosis," he stated.

Meanwhile, Chatrie, who was slapped with a 10-day ban for the incident, in addition to $20,000 in fines, lodged an appeal with the JRC on Wednesday.