Result of enquiries (K O’Neill, I Brennan, M Cosham, D Swift, S Teasdale) heard by the Disciplinary Panel on Thursday 4 August
Kieran O’Neill
1. The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on 4 August 2016 held an enquiry to establish whether or not Kieran O’Neill, the rider of PIROUETTE, placed second, had committed a breach of Schedule (B)6 Part 2 of the Rules of Racing concerning his use of the whip in the Woodford Reserve Handicap at Ascot on 23 July 2016. The matter was referred to the BHA Head Office by the Ascot Stewards following an enquiry on the same day because this was Mr O’Neill’s fifth offence of mis-use of the whip, warranting a suspension of between 2 to 6 days, in the last 6 months.
2. Prior to the enquiry, both parties had agreed that they had no objection to the Panel members sitting.
3. The BHA’s case was presented by Lyn Williams and Mr O’Neill was represented by Rory Mac Neice. The Panel also viewed recordings of the race.
4. The Panel accepted Mr O’Neill’s admission that he was guilty of misuse of the whip in that he had used his whip above the permitted level. It considered that the breach would have warranted a suspension of 2 days.
5. Taking into account that Mr O’Neill:
i) had committed 5 whip breaches (4 x 2 days & 1 x 4 days), since 11 February 2016; and
ii) had had 282 rides over this period
the Panel suspended him from riding for 16 days, of which 5 days will be deferred for 42 days until Monday 3 October 2016. The suspension will run from Friday 12 August 2016 until Monday 22 August 2016 inclusive, on days when flat racing is scheduled to take place.
6. In deciding on the length of suspension, the Panel took into account the large number of rides and the 5½ month period over which the suspensions incurred.
Ian Brennan, Shirley Teasdale, Dale Swift, Matthew Cosham
1. The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) held an enquiry on 4 August 2016 to consider whether or not Ian Brennan, Matthew Cosham, Dale Swift and Shirley Teasdale had committed a breach of Rule (A)31.1.1 of the Rules of Racing, in that, having agreed under the terms of their licence to attend a mandatory training seminar for professional jockeys if one was held during the period of their licence, they failed to attend one of the three Flat Jockeys’ Seminars that were held on Tuesday 12 April 2016 at Newmarket, Friday 15 April 2016 at Newbury and Wednesday 11 May 2016 at York.
2. Prior to the enquiry, all parties had agreed that they had no objection to the Panel members sitting. The cases were presented by Lyn Williams, BHA Case Manager.
3. The Panel noted that every Flat Jockey, including all 3lb and 5lb Apprentice Jockeys, had been written to by the BHA on 26 January 2016 informing them of the dates and venues of the Seminars and a further letter was sent on 9 March 2016 giving timings and confirming venues, asking them to indicate their preference. A notice and three further reminders regarding the Seminars were published in the PJA newsletter in February, March, April and May 2016. Also, the PJA tweeted a reminder a day before each of the seminars.
4. Having considered the evidence the Panel found Messrs Brennan, Cosham, Swift and Miss Teasdale were in breach of Rule (A)31.1.1.
Messrs Cosham & Brennan – The Panel imposed a suspension of 5 days from Friday 12 August 2016 to Tuesday 16 August 2016 inclusive, having provided no explanations as to their non-attendance.
Mr Swift was licenced from 11 April 2016 and would not have received earlier communications from the BHA. However, he had been riding regularly since 16 April and would have been aware of the seminar in May, 2016. The Panel imposed a suspension of 3 days from Friday 12 August 2015 to Sunday 14 August 2016 inclusive.
Miss Teasdale – The Panel noted that she had given up her licence on 25 February 2016 and acquired a new licence on 6 May 2016. She had also received the letters informing jockeys of the seminars. The Panel imposed a suspension of 2 days from Friday 12 August 2016 to Saturday 13 August 2016 inclusive.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Panel for the enquiries was: Philip Curl (Chair), Edward Dorrell, Diana Powles
