24 Mar 2016

Sam Waley-Cohen

The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on 24 March 2016 considered an appeal lodged by Mr Sam Waley-Cohen, the rider of LONG RUN, placed fifth in the ApolloBet Bet On Lotteries Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase on 20 March 2016, against the decision of the Stewards at Carlisle, to find him in breach of Rule (B)59.4 of the Rules of Racing in that he had been found guilty of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing in that he had failed to ride out on a horse that could have finished third and to suspend him from riding for 7 days.

 

The BHA’s case was presented by Lyn Williams. Mr Waley-Cohen attended and gave submissions to the Panel. The Panel also viewed recordings of the race.

 

The BHA submitted that having jumped the last fence in third place, on the run to the line, Mr Waley-Cohen stood up and looked over his shoulder and stopped riding for 12 strides. When inside the final half furlong he realized he was being challenged for third place he made a conscious decision to start riding again. In the concluding stages he was overtaken by BARACHOIS SILVER placed third and DURBAN GOLD placed fourth.

 

Mr Waley-Cohen told the Panel that LONG RUN was plugging on and that he felt that when the other horses came to him and he asked LONG RUN to rally, had he been able to finish closer, the horse would have picked up again, but he felt that he was always only going to finish fifth.

 

Having viewed the film of the race and heard all the evidence, the Panel, whilst accepting that LONG RUN was tiring, felt that he could have finished third but for the fact that Mr Waley-Cohen stopped riding for 12 strides on the run in.

 

The Panel dismissed the appeal and confirmed the 7 day suspension on Sunday 3 April to Tuesday 5 April, Thursday 7 April, Saturday 9 April, Monday 11 April and Tuesday 12 April 2016 inclusive.

 

The Panel ordered that the deposit be forfeited as that no new evidence was produced other than that which was considered by the Carlisle Stewards on the day.

 

Notes to Editors:

1. The Panel for the enquiry was: Lucinda Cavendish (Chair), Diana Powles, Edward Dorrell