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Pat Cosgrave free to ride after BHA refuse to uphold Dubai ban Pat Cosgrave free to ride after BHA refuse to uphold Dubai ban
(34 minutes later)
Pat Cosgrave, who faced missing much of the remainder of the Flat season following a four-month suspension imposed in Dubai earlier this year, will be free to ride at Royal Ascot next week and beyond after his application to the British Horseracing Authority that it should not reciprocate the ban was upheld by the BHA’s disciplinary panel on Tuesday.Pat Cosgrave, who faced missing much of the remainder of the Flat season following a four-month suspension imposed in Dubai earlier this year, will be free to ride at Royal Ascot next week and beyond after his application to the British Horseracing Authority that it should not reciprocate the ban was upheld by the BHA’s disciplinary panel on Tuesday.
Cosgrave, who has ridden more than 400 winners including three in Group One events, was initially banned for six months by the Emirates Racing Authority after he was found guilty of improper riding in the Group One Jebel Hatta. Cosgrave’s mount Anaerobio, an outsider for the race, drifted off the rail, allowing Vercingetorix, the favourite and a stablemate from the Mike de Kock yard, a trouble-free run around the home turn on the way to victory.Cosgrave, who has ridden more than 400 winners including three in Group One events, was initially banned for six months by the Emirates Racing Authority after he was found guilty of improper riding in the Group One Jebel Hatta. Cosgrave’s mount Anaerobio, an outsider for the race, drifted off the rail, allowing Vercingetorix, the favourite and a stablemate from the Mike de Kock yard, a trouble-free run around the home turn on the way to victory.
The ban was later reduced to four months on appeal, but Cosgrave can now continue riding without the threat of a long suspension hanging over him. The disciplinary panel’s reasons for its finding will be published at a later date, but it is the second such decision in recent times, following the ruling in October to uphold an appeal by Martin Dwyer that a ban from India in February 2013 should not be reciprocated.The ban was later reduced to four months on appeal, but Cosgrave can now continue riding without the threat of a long suspension hanging over him. The disciplinary panel’s reasons for its finding will be published at a later date, but it is the second such decision in recent times, following the ruling in October to uphold an appeal by Martin Dwyer that a ban from India in February 2013 should not be reciprocated.
As he left a four-hour hearing at the BHA’s offices in London, Cosgrave expressed his relief at the outcome.As he left a four-hour hearing at the BHA’s offices in London, Cosgrave expressed his relief at the outcome.
“It’s been a rocky few months,” he said, “but I’m pleased with the result. Thank God it’s over now and I can look forward and get back to doing my job in racing and knocking in a few winners.“It’s been a rocky few months,” he said, “but I’m pleased with the result. Thank God it’s over now and I can look forward and get back to doing my job in racing and knocking in a few winners.
“I think I’ve been riding pretty well since I got back [from Dubai], the first week was hard but after that, when I got really race fit again and got my eye in again, everything was going pretty smoothly. Riding was good for me, I think if you are just sitting at home it would probably play on your mind more, but when you’re busy driving up and down the country, it keeps your mind off it. It means you sleep better at night too because you’re so tired.”“I think I’ve been riding pretty well since I got back [from Dubai], the first week was hard but after that, when I got really race fit again and got my eye in again, everything was going pretty smoothly. Riding was good for me, I think if you are just sitting at home it would probably play on your mind more, but when you’re busy driving up and down the country, it keeps your mind off it. It means you sleep better at night too because you’re so tired.”
Cosgrave said that he would have no concerns about returning to ride in Dubai in the future, and thanked the Professional Jockeys’ Association for its assistance in preparing his case.Cosgrave said that he would have no concerns about returning to ride in Dubai in the future, and thanked the Professional Jockeys’ Association for its assistance in preparing his case.
“I hope to go back to Dubai,” Cosgrave said. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t. It’s just one of those things, I’ve been pretty successful in Dubai over the last four or five years and it’s a nice place to ride. It’s just unfortunate that this has happened this year. Hopefully that’s the end of it and we can move forward. “I hope to go back to Dubai,” Cosgrave said. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t. It’s just one of those things, I’ve been pretty successful in Dubai over the last four or five years and it’s a nice place to ride. It’s just unfortunate that this has happened this year. Hopefully that’s the end of it and we can move forward. I’d like to thank the PJA. Paul Struthers [the PJA’s chief executive] has been instrumental in the whole thing and he’s been top class. Without the likes of Paul and the PJA, this would have been very hard to get sorted.”
“I’d like to thank the PJA. Paul Struthers [the PJA’s chief executive] has been instrumental in the whole thing and he’s been top class. Without the likes of Paul and the PJA, this would have been very hard to get sorted.” The Emirates Racing Authority has requested written reasons and a transcript of Cosgrave’s appeal hearing. John Zucal, chief steward for the ERA, said: “I have got the decision of the BHA and I have asked for reasons and a transcript of the hearing, which I am sure I will get. Apart from that, I won’t be making a comment as I think it is inappropriate from a personal, and an ERA, point of view. We shall let the dust settle first.”
The BHA’s disciplinary panel will be called upon again on Wednesday to determine whether 39 riders “attempted to line up and/or take a position for the start before being instructed to do so by the starter” before the Grand National at Aintree in April. The BHA’s disciplinary panel will be called upon again on Wednesday to determine whether 39 riders “attempted to line up and/or take a position for the start before being instructed to do so by the starter” before the Grand National at Aintree in April.
A stewards’ inquiry into events before the start of the National could not be completed on the day of the race after the jockeys involved refused to reattend following a suspension. If found in breach of the rules, each of the jockeys can expect to receive a one-day ban.A stewards’ inquiry into events before the start of the National could not be completed on the day of the race after the jockeys involved refused to reattend following a suspension. If found in breach of the rules, each of the jockeys can expect to receive a one-day ban.