By AIDAN RODLEY - Waikato Times

Moments after disqualifying top rider Bruce Herd for 15 months, Judicial Control Authority chairman Murray McKechnie urged the Palmerston North jockey not to give up on racing.

"Mr Herd, you are too good not to be in this game. Don't give up on it," Mr McKechnie said following yesterday's hearing at Te Rapa.

Herd, 38 and a winner of more than 1000 races in New Zealand will ride at Palmerston North today then disappear from racing ranks until at least February 1, 2010, after he admitted a serious racing charge relating to a urine sample switch during random drug testing at a Te Rapa race meeting on October 3. New Zealand's current best jockey, Opie Bosson, was disqualified for four months for supplying Herd with the urine sample. Herd, who was also ordered to pay costs of $2300, was disappointed with the length of his disqualification and afterwards would not be drawn on his future. "This affects a lot of people," he said. "I feel sorry for Opie. I shouldn't have dragged him into it."

Herd's counsel, Peter Brosnahan, said the jockey wanted to avoid the drug test because he had smoked cannabis and taken diuretics.

When selected for random testing at Te Rapa on October 3, Herd emptied a tube of Berocca energy drink tablets and approached Bosson and asked him to provide a urine sample for him.

The sample returned a clear reading but New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing was told Bosson had provided Herd's sample. Mr Brosnahan said Herd, the current riding master at Awapuni, was full of remorse for his actions.

"He has a lot more to lose as well. His partner (Lisa Latta) runs a now large and successful training stable. It has gone from six horses to now 45 horses and over 300 owners.

"Mr Herd works tirelessly with her in running that training establishment and if he is disqualified he will be unable to assist her. That will mean the number of horses and staff of 15 now employed there, will be dramatically reduced."

Counsel Alan Galbraith said Bosson immediately admitted he was the donor of the urine sample. "He never thought of the consequences and in hindsight saw how stupid he was."

Mr McKechnie said there would be widespread disappointment two such high-profile jockeys were involved in such a serious matter. "The issue of drugs in racing is more important right now than it ever has been. It not only hurts Mr Bosson and Mr Herd but also the wider industry."

As well as his disqualification, Bosson was ordered to pay costs of $1000. He will be eligible to return to riding on March 1.