A jockey has been banned for five years after a ‘bizarre’ incident in which he fell off his horse on the home straight of a race.
Alvinio Roy turned for home in a commanding position upon Special Force in a race at Champ de Mars in Mauritius.
But the jockey was then dismounted and went flying off his horse, allowing a rival to come through and claim the win.
Ian Paterson, a former chief steward, described the incident as ‘bizarre’ and added that ‘at the very least it looks like incompetent riding’.
In a report submitted to the stewards, Roy said he felt his saddle had shifted before the race and then lost both stirrups in the final stages, forcing him off race leaders Special Force.
The jockey appeared at a hearing during the week where he explained his side of the story and reiterated his belief that his saddle had moved, though this had been checked by handlers before the race, according to The Sporting Post.
The stewards questioned Roy’s claim and asked: ‘How did you fall? There was no stumble nor no sudden movement from the horse. The horse was as good as he could be. What really happened?’
Roy again said his foot slipped from new stirrups he was using but the stewards did not accept his explanation and handed him a five-year ban.
He was punished under Section 80.1.19 of the Rules of Racing, which reads: ‘Without in any way derogating from the provisions of the Rules, no Person shall commit, incite or conspire with anybody to commit any corrupt, fraudulent, dishonest or prohibited practice in relation to the racing, breeding, buying and/or selling of Horses in any country.’
Chief Stipendiary steward Riyaz Khan reportedly told Roy it ‘looked more like a jump than a fall’, while the panel accused him of lying during his testimony.
Roy has appealed the decision but in the meantime has been suspended from ‘training and racing’.
‘Although he is appealing, he will not be able to get back in the saddle for either training or racing,’ a statement said.
‘He can’t be present at training either. It is highly likely that the case will be transferred to the police.’
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