Richard Hughes: ban could rule him out of racing in Britain until April 29
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Hughes handed long ban by Mumbai stewards
RICHARD HUGHES will have to wait before learning when he can get involved in the next British Flat season after stewards in Mumbai handed the rider a lengthy suspension that could result in him being ruled out of racing until April 29.
Hughes, vying for favouritism in the race to be the coming season's British champion jockey, has already vowed to appeal a suspension that was given to him for not riding to instructions at a meeting at Mahalaxmi racecourse last week.
Hughes said: "I'm disappointed with the decision and I have to appeal it."
The ban was handed to Hughes at a deferred disciplinary hearing on Friday.
Richard Hannon's stable jockey was last month successful in reducing a nine-meeting ban to a fine that totalled just over £1,000.
The latest suspension - based on an offence that does not exist in Britain - covers 15 meetings from March 11 until the end of the Mumbai season.
Were Hughes not to be successful in his Indian appeal, he could, in theory, ask the BHA not to reciprocate it.
BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said: "We await being informed by the relevant racing authority regarding any suspensions, and subsequently how they would expect the suspension to be reciprocated in our jurisdiction. Once this information has been received, we will subsequently uphold it in the manner requested.
"Once a jockey has exhausted the appeal process in a jurisdiction where a ban is imposed, they have 48 hours to ask their home authority not to reciprocate the ban."
Comments