Jockey Banned and Disqualified After Breaking Rare Rule in Race with Dad's Horse

A JOCKEY was immediately banned and stripped of a win on a horse trained by his dad – after a move so dangerous it broke a rule rarely used in racing.

Philip Byrnes’ win on the well-backed 11-8 favourite Marian Avenue, trained by dad Charles, has been instantly scrubbed from the record books.

This was the scrimmaging incident that saw one horse severely impeded and another carried out as a result of a jockey’s dangerous riding

It comes after an explosive incident in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Limerick on Thursday night.

Marian Avenue looked well positioned to land the prize under Byrnes Jnr but started hanging badly left approaching the second last jump.

That forced horse and jockey to cut up Danny Mullins on the quickly-closing Qaasid.

But on his outside was Sean O’Keeffe on Friar Hogan.

The domino effect of the carnage meant O’Keeffe and Friar Hogan were carried out of the race, both being forced wide of the wing of the penultimate hurdle.

Byrnes and Marian Lodge corrected themselves and finished first past the post, while Mullins and Qaasid motored home to finish second.

But in a stewards’ enquiry conducted immediately after the result, Marian Lodge was thrown out, Byrnes was banned and he was ordered to forfeit his riding fee.

Mullins and Qaasid were promoted to winners while Hob’s Angel, who was third, was bumped up to second.

Incredibly, the incident comes exactly a year to the day after the .

There, Byrnes Jnr – who was cleared of any wrongdoing – fell off a leading horse at the final jump at Wexford.

On this occasion, however, stewards decided Byrnes had ridden ‘dangerously’ – the most severe rules breach a jockey can make when it comes to riding.

He was banned for 21 days.

The stewards’ report read: “The Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference approaching the second last hurdle involving Qaasid, ridden by D.E. Mullins, placed second, Marian Avenue, ridden by P. Byrnes, placed first and Friar Hogan, ridden by S.F. O’Keeffe, carried out, where it appeared that interference occurred.

“Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.

“D.E. Mullins stated that he maintained his line wide off the bend and was deliberately pushed off his line by Marian Avenue and had to take violent action to get back on track to jump the second last hurdle.

“He further stated that he felt this incident had cost him the winning of the race.

“P. Byrnes stated that his mount cocked his jaw coming down to the second last hurdle, tried to run out and that he had two hands on the reins trying to keep his mount straight.

“S.F. O’Keeffe stated that he maintained his outside line throughout the race when he received interference from the inside and was carried out.

“Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were of the opinion that P. Byrnes was in breach of Rule 214.1.(b) in that he had ridden dangerously and as a consequence they disqualified Marian Avenue from first place.

“Furthermore having considered his clean record under Rule 214, the Raceday Stewards suspended P. Byrnes for 21 racedays and ordered that he forfeit his riding fee.

“In arriving in their decision, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that P. Byrnes failed to correct his mount at a point in the race that was in close proximity to the hurdle and as such rode in a way which was far below that of a competent and careful rider, and where it would be obvious to such a competent and careful rider that riding in that way was likely to endanger the safety of another horse or rider.”

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our .