Disgraced jockey given massive one-year ban for ‘outrageous act’ in controversial race
A DISGRACED jockey has been given a massive one-year ban AGAIN for his ‘handling of a horse’ in a controversial race.
Mark Ewe’s ride on Royal Flush – dubbed an ‘outrageous act’ by one website – was clocked by stewards soon after the finish to a contest at Selangor in Malaysia.
With a tight grip on the reins, Ewe didn’t appear to ask his horse for maximum effort down the home straight.
Stewards determined he checked his mare’s run at several stages before she finished second to Zilfikar.
After hauling Ewe in for questioning they charged him under MRA Rule 44(8) which states: “A jockey fails to take all resonable and permissible measures throughout the race to give the horse full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing.”
Ewe, a former three-time champion apprentice, was banned with immediate effect and fined £8,700, although he will appeal the finding.
The jockey was previously suspended for a year in 2012 under similar circumstances.
He copped the whopping ban back then for his handling of a horse called Abyss in a Class 5 race.
Punters had sympathy with the jockey this time round, claiming they see similar rides go unpunished.
One slated the ban as ‘insane’ and added: “Something in the US happens ten times worse every week and they might get a couple days. That’s ridiculous.”
While another commented: “How is this a one year suspension? He didn’t appear to do anything wrong but look for racing room.”
Ewe said after his first 12-month ban that he had learned his lesson and vowed not to do it again.
He said at the time: “I was really down after I was disqualified for one year.
“For the first couple of months I went back home to help my uncle with his fishing business, just to get my mind off racing.
“I made a costly mistake, but I’ve learned my lesson. I hope I will get more rides from now on.”
Jockeys being banned under non-trier rules is nothing new.
Dylan Kitts has been banned from all racecourses and had his licence suspended after his infamous ride on Hillsin.
In a situation similar to Ewe’s, Kitts’s ride, who was 2-1 favourite the night before but went to 11-1 before the off, was handled tenderly in the closing stages of a race at Worcester.
The ride was initially referred to the BHA and Hillsin was suspended from running for 40 days.
Kitts stood himself down and a BHA statement read: “”By agreement between the parties it has been ordered that Mr Kitts’ licence be suspended with immediate effect and Mr Kitts is prohibited from attending any racecourse in Britain.
“This order will be kept under review and will last until a further order is made, whilst the BHA investigation and potential disciplinary proceedings remain ongoing and which will be dealt with as swiftly as possible.”
Again, similar to Ewe, Kitts was previously been banned under the ‘non-trier’ rule for a ride on Jet Of Dreams in May.
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