BHA and jockeys' body clash after Bennett wins careless riding appeal

The BHA has come under fire from the Professional Jockeys Association over its handling of a 12-day careless riding ban given to Charlie Bennett which on Thursday was overturned on appeal.

PJA chief executive Paul Struthers questioned the ban handed out by Kempton stewards and the BHA's decision to contest the appeal.

Raceday stewards at Kempton on February 6 found Bennett guilty of careless riding in an incident which left fellow jockey Robert Havlin in hospital with a broken collarbone and cracked rib and his mount, Beehaar, fatally injured.

However, the ban was overturned with the coming together between Havlin and Bennett's horses deemed accidental.

The incident took place at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

In a statement, Struthers expressed disappointment an appeal had to be heard. He said: "We believed this case was exceptional, that the stewards' conclusion that Charlie had 'edged left without correction when not sufficiently clear' was palpably wrong.

"We felt this was so obvious that we invited the BHA to quash the finding using its powers under Rule (B)18 which would have avoided the need for a disciplinary panel hearing at all."

Responding to the comments made by Struthers, a BHA spokesperson said: "The stewards at Kempton had to consider a serious incident of potential interference which led to the fatal injury to Beehaar and a serious injury to rider Rab Havlin. Their judgement on the day was that Charlie Bennett was guilty of careless riding.

"The reason we have an appeal system, within an independent judicial system which is admired and copied in other sports since its reform in British racing in 2016, is to provide participants with a fair, transparent way to challenge original decisions if they feel them to be incorrect or if they feel hard done by."

Bennett, expressed his satisfaction with the verdict and is hoping to put the incident behind him: He said: "I hated the idea of appealing and was absolutely gutted for Rab and the horse, but I just couldn’t understand why they’d found me in breach.

"I was hugely relieved Rab’s injuries were not more serious and I hope he’s back soon. I’m just pleased this is over and I can put it behind me."

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