Seamie Heffernan: nobody wins if stewards and jockeys can't work together

Seamie Heffernan has argued the way the interference rules are being interpreted by stewards in Ireland is having a negative effect on the sport.

The multiple Classic-winning jockey, who was speaking after riding a treble at Naas on Sunday, will be appealing the four-day careless riding ban he received after winning aboard Jungle Jungle at Gowran Park earlier this month, which he believes would not have been looked into in previous years.

Heffernan said: “I'm appealing the severity of it. In the past eight years I've been done twice for careless riding. That's over 3,000 rides, I went back and looked through my record.”

Watch Heffernan's ride on Jungle Jungle

He added: “Last year, or how many years ago, what happened at Gowran wouldn't have been looked at but the rules are changing. Even though the rulebook hasn't changed, the way the rules are being implemented is changing in that all interference is being looked at.

“I don't think it's a good thing for the sport. I need the stewards to be severe and strong and I need no danger but I don't believe what I did at Gowran was dangerous to anybody. But we live in a changing world.”

Detailing what happened at Gowran Park, where he was trapped on the rail aboard strong-travelling Jungle Jungle with a furlong to race before manoeuvring out for racing room, Heffernan explained he would have felt the wrath of the stewards for different reasons had he sat and suffered.

He said: “I just feel my only other option was to sit and when you do that other questions would have been asked. One of the main rules is that a rider must obtain his best possible position. Some people are throwing petrol on the fire and others have been around long enough in that they understand the rules.”

Heffernan added: “The American tracks are all flat and left-handed so they go hard on interference over there. Our tracks are undulating.

“So I'm appealing and hopefully I'll get it reduced. I'd love to get it quashed altogether. Nobody wins if the stewards and jockeys can't work together. Racing is the only loser then.”

Read more:

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