Racing: Cup winner arrested

The jockey who rode the winner in this month’s Port Hedland Cup was arrested in Broome last week.

Leading country jockey Grant Lemos is due to appear in Broome Magistrate’s Court after police arrested him at Broome Airport where he allegedly made threats against racecourse investigator Phil O’Reilly when checking in on a flight to Perth.

“It was a total behaviour change to the person I know,” O’Reilly said.

The widely-travelled jockey launched a tirade of abuse at stewards and O’Reilly after he was questioned following a urine sample he provided during a routine swabbing of apprentices and jockeys for alcohol and drugs in the jockeys’ room before the first race on Broome Cup day.

Lemos continued his tirade into the stewards’ room and public arena where he was alleged to have made further threats against officials.

The experienced rider, who rode Pentire Point to victory in the Port Hedland Cup on August 1, has had his licence suspended until a stewards’ inquiry is concluded. A date has yet to be set for the hearing.