A former prominent jockey, Luke Tarrant, has been detained on three charges related to armed robbery. Tarrant, who is currently serving a 12-month racing disqualification for another offense, was denied bail during his recent court appearance in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia.
The charges against Tarrant include three counts of armed robbery, trespassing with intent to commit a serious offense, and possessing illegal substances, as reported by Racenet.com. The offense of robbery carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, which can escalate to life imprisonment in cases involving armed robbery, accomplices, or violence.
Scheduled to reappear in court on March 19, the 31-year-old Tarrant, who last competed in August, has achieved 502 victories, including three Group race triumphs. His notable success occurred in 2015 when he won the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
In 2020, Tarrant was suspended for six months after confessing to assaulting another jockey in the weighing room. Additionally, in October of the previous year, he was disqualified for a year for his refusal to cooperate with a stewards’ inquiry into alleged falsification of health assessment documents used for licensing.
The matter was referred to Queensland’s Racing Integrity Commission, where Tarrant was instructed to enter a plea, but he failed to respond within four weeks. The Commission panel expressed concern over Tarrant’s behavior, emphasizing the importance of participant cooperation in maintaining integrity in the industry.
The report concluded that Tarrant’s actions warranted a 12-month disqualification starting from October 8, 2025, to October 8, 2026, to uphold the regulatory framework and preserve public trust in the betting sector.
