Jockey slapped with nine-month ban after controversial incident caught on live TV
A JOCKEY has been banned for nine months after deliberately riding their horse into a rival and making threats against another.
Ianish Luximon was charged for conduct detrimental to the interests of racing after a running of a race at Alice Springs in Australia on November 2.
Ianish Luximon has been banned from racing for nine months[/caption]
A stewards’ report for the Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territories said how Luximon was riding Fantasy Eagle in Race 6 when after passing the winning post he deliberately stirred up his mount with his whip.
He then veered his horse towards rival Flying Start ridden by Lek Maloney.
The report said: “After passing the winning post he deliberately stirred up his mount using the whip and steered the gelding towards Flying Start, ridden by apprentice Lek Maloney…
“[He] veered to the right causing his mount to come in close proximity of the gelding when the rider was not anticipating any incident and he took evasive action.”
This conduct was caught live on Sky TV channel.
The aggressive acts continued when going back to the unsaddling enclosure.
There he is said to have “aggressively” used his whip and reins to provoke his horse and directed the gelding towards Flying Start.
The inquiry said: “This resulted in his mount Fantasy Eagle being intentionally ridden into and making forceful contact with Flying Start on multiple occasions when that gelding and its rider were positioned up against the outside running rail.
“During the course of these two incidents he did, in a loud manner, verbally abuse and threaten harm to apprentice Lek Maloney.”
The conclusion was that his acts were prejudicial to the image, interests and welfare of racing and compromised the safety and welfare of both jockeys and their horses.
It also potentially risked injury to other participants.
There were a number of eye-witnesses to the latter incident to confirm Luximon’s conduct in view of racegoers.
Luximon pleaded guilty to the charges and is said to have shown “belated remorse” at the inquiry.
He was consequently handed a nine-month ban from racing, a £250 fine and ordered to seek help with anger management before reapplying for a licence.
Stewards determined the penalty “must serve as a general and specific deterrent”.
Luximon has ridden 72 winners since arriving in Australia five years ago.
He is originally from Mauritius.
