Jockey who headbutted rival after race is handed six-month ban

Jockey who headbutted rival after Australian race is handed six-month ban for misconduct and breaching COVID-19 social distancing rules

• Tarrant struck Larry Cassidy after the ninth race at Doomben Racecourse 
• The pair had finished seventh and eighth in a 1200m handicap on Wednesday 
• Tarrant pleaded guilty to a charge after he was involved in verbal confrontation 

Australian jockey Luke Tarrant has been given a six-month ban after headbutting fellow rider Larry Cassidy during an altercation at Doomben racecourse on Wednesday.

The local stewards said they had taken into account that Tarrant had breached social distancing rules during the fracas.

Tarrant pleaded guilty to a charge after he was involved in a verbal confrontation with Cassidy at the Brisbane track, which resulted in the rider suffering an injury.

Jockey Luke Tarrant (pictured at the Magic Millions Race Day) struck Larry Cassidy

A stewards report said: ‘Jockey L. Tarrant pleaded guilty to a charge under AR115(1)(a) in that he misconducted himself after being involved in a verbal altercation with jockey L. Cassidy in the vicinity of the scales area by head-butting jockey Cassidy, resulting in his helmet making contact with the nose of jockey Cassidy and causing jockey Cassidy an injury.”

Tarrant’s suspension will expire on October 22.

The stewards added: ‘In considering penalty, stewards took into account the significant contact to jockey Cassidy and also the breach of the COVID-19 social distancing protocols currently in place, and the potential for his actions to have an adverse effect on the racing industry.’

 

Source: Read Full Article