Kelly, who won a restricted steeplechase on Pentomatic at last month's Warrnambool May Racing Carnival and ran second on No Song No Supper in the 2017 Grand Annual Steeplechase, pleaded guilty to the charges including one of placing four bets on races he rode in.

The first charge related to 47 bets totalling $869.03 from January 2016 to June 2016 which included jumps races at Warrnambool and Hamilton.

The RAD Board ordered a three-month disqualification on charges one and three that deal with placing bets on thoroughbred races in which he was not involved. That sanction is to be served concurrently with the 16-month ban.

The second charge - where Kelly was found to have bet on four races where he rode - carries a minimum mandatory term of two years' disqualification but the panel allowed for special circumstances in that he pleaded guilty, the bets were all small and his record was good.

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The RAD Board ruled a four-month disqualification on the fourth charge was necessary for providing false and misleading evidence to stewards. That ban was cumulative with the one for charge two, taking his penalty to 20 months.

Kelly has been the stable rider for champion jumps trainer Eric Musgrove for seven years.

Musgrove said it was a "terrible shame" what had happened to the reigning Tommy Corrigan Medal winner. Kelly won the medal which recognises the standout rider in jumps races across Victoria and South Australia in August last year.

"Martin is a hard worker," Musgrove said.

"It was a poor error of judgement by Martin. He's been a loyal rider and hard worker for my stable.

"I know Martin is extremely sorry for his actions. He's been a great supporter of the racing industry."

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