Horse Racing: Grand National winning jockey wins appeal
It was previously reported that the young jockey, Jason Maguire, was suspended for the allegation of taking a wrong course while one of the other jockeys (who fell off his mount and was injured) was being attended by the medical staff of the racecourse management.
He was suspended for ten days by the stewards of the Wetherby racecourse on Saturday, after the race ended. This was a handicap chase that took place over a distance of 3 miles and 1 furlong.
Maguire was not the only jockey to be suspended for taking the wrong course during that race. Along with him, Paul Gallgher was also banned from any further racing because he too was alleged for taking the wrong side of the racecourse. These jockeys justified
that they had to take the other side to prevent the already injured jockey, Harry Haynes, from any further problem. Harry fell off his mount during the previous circuit of the race and was lying on the racecourse, having injured himself.
After discussing the matter and his concern with some legal advisors, the jockey decided to appeal against this suspension since he had only acted in favour of Harry by taking the other course to avoid further injuring him. The disciplinary panel announced
that the action of the jockey was justified and that his ban should be called off, on Thursday, 21st April. The members of the panel agreed that if Jason had taken the required course he might have caused Harry more trouble than he was already in.
In this particular race, the young Grand National winning jockey was riding the racehorse, Wolf Moon, sent as a 100-30 favourite. When he was approached by the correspondents regarding the ten day ban and its subsequent elevation, he was reported as saying,
“I knew what I was doing. Young Harry was on the ground and with the injuries and things I was thinking about safety. That’s why I decided to appeal”.
Jason Maguire also added that it was the need of time so he had to take the situation in his own hands. Moreover, he said that if he had to do something like this again for the safety of others, he will not hesitate to do so.
Tags: