Horse racing: Tony McCoy among nine jockeys banned

TONY McCoy was one of nine jockeys at Wetherby hit with a ten-day suspension for failing to stop after a race had been voided.The 16-times champion jockey was riding Sharadiyn in the Betfair Supports Spinal Research Handicap Hurdle when he and eight other riders ignored a member of the groundstaff waving a yellow flag, which denotes a race should be stopped.

Head groundsman Ian Ward attempted to void the race as the stricken Ashburton Lad was lying between the third-last and the penultimate hurdle.

Ward was working within his remit, but nine jockeys still finished the race, with Cunning Clarets, ridden by Brian Hughes, first past the post.

The offending riders – Hughes, McCoy, Graham Lee, Danny Cook, Denis O’Regan, Alex Voy, Jonathon Bewley, Paddy Brennan and Brian Toomey – will be sidelined between 26 October to 4 November.

Dougie Costello’s mount, Favours Brave, pulled up, the Tom Messenger-ridden Glorybe refused to race, while Campbell Gillies was on Ashburton Lad. Costello, Messenger and Gillies therefore escaped punishment.

Wetherby racecourse chief executive Jonjo Sanderson said: “Fiona [Needham, clerk of the course] was trying to contact Ian Ward, our head groundsman, on the walkie-talkie. Unfortunately, for some reason Ian could not hear her.

“Ian was concerned that the runners would not be able to get past the stricken horse and he made a judgment call. In his role as head groundsman he is well within his rights to make such a call. He was in the correct place and was waving his yellow flag and blowing a whistle.”

Cook, who secured a double on the card aboard King Zeal and Amtired, said: “I’m very annoyed and very frustrated. There were flags all over the place and no-one knew what they were doing.”

There was further drama in division one of the “Happy Retirement” Iris Chapman Maiden Hurdle when Jack Salmon was suspended ten days. Salmon was banned after the stewards adjudged he should have pulled up Alaskan Prince earlier than the third flight as his mount appeared to have gone lame.