Mark Gatt Disqualified For Seven Months

LEADING NSW trainer Mark Gatt has been disqualified for seven months on conduct related matters.

Gatt pleaded guilty to two charges laid against him by Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) stewards at a hearing last week.

GWIC Director of Race Day Operations & Integrity Wade Birch chaired the inquiry before charging Gatt with two breaches of racing rules as per below.

Rule 156(f) – An offence is committed if a person (including an official) – (f) has, in relation to a greyhound or greyhound racing, done something, or omitted to do something, which, in the opinion of a controlling body or the stewards. (ii) constitutes misconduct or is negligent or improper.

Rule 165(c) – An offence is committed if a person (including an official) – (c) engages in contemptuous, unseemly, improper, insulting or offensive conduct or behaviour in any manner or form towards, or in relation to. (iv) a Steward or any other official of a Controlling Body or Club.

The two separate incidents took place at Wentworth Park on July 23.

On Tuesday, stewards handed down a six-month penalty for Charge 1 under Rule 156(f) and a five-month penalty for Charge 2 under Rule 165(c).

Stewards ruled that one month of the Charge 2 penalty be served cumulatively with the penalty for Charge 1 while four months of the Charge 2 penalty be served concurrently with Charge 1 meaning the net penalty is a total of seven months.

On Tuesday afternoon, Gatt lodged an internal review, requesting a stay of proceedings.