Rob Hornby questions stewards’ consistency after seven-day Royal Ascot ban while Lorcan Williams gets lesser punishment
TOP jock Rob Hornby is ‘absolutely gutted’ to miss Royal Ascot through suspension after forgetting to weigh-in after a race.
And he has also been left with a bitter taste in his mouth after Lorcan Williams got a lighter suspension for an offence which, on the surface, appears more serious.
PARob Hornby will miss Royal Ascot through suspension[/caption]
Group 1 winner Hornby, 29, was slapped with a seven-day ban at Nottingham on Sunday after ‘an innocent mistake’ when forgetting to return to the scales after finishing third on Surrey Belle.
Meanwhile Williams, who deliberately tried to weigh-in without his saddle at Uttoxeter on Thursday and was subsequently two pounds overweight, got three days.
Hornby said: “I don’t know how they decide on the punishments or dish these things out, all jockeys just want a bit of consistency.
“In my case it was a human error, it was an innocent mistake which doesn’t happen often but it happens occasionally, and I think seven days is quite harsh.
THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE
THE best bet for savvy punters.
Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing’s best winner’s enclosure and get…
Two free racing tickets, four times a year
Templegate’s daily tips before anyone else
Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today
Exclusive insights from Andrew Balding and Hayley Turner
VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month
New customer offer with Coral
Become a member today for just £1*
*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.
18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk
“Royal Ascot is everything for every jockey and for making a silly error it’s denied me the chance to ride there, which is absolutely gutting.”
He has yet to bag a winner at the Royal meeting but would have picked up several nice rides for Andrew Balding and Ralph Beckett, among others.
Hornby reckons officials could be a little more lenient as regards the dates of suspensions if they are going to clash with a big meeting like Ascot.
And, off the back of this week’s events, the BHA are believed to be considering looking at the current penalty guidelines.
He added: “Ascot is something we all work towards all season, so it is a blow.
“Maybe being a little more flexible around a big meeting is something they can look at in future.”
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
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 detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
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 detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
