Jockey Pat Cosgrave, suspended four months by the Emirates Racing Authority as a result of his ride aboard third-place finisher Anaerobio (Arg) (Catcher in the Rye {Ire}) in the G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan Mar. 8, is permitted to ride in Britain after the British Horseracing Authority announced it would uphold an application by the jockey to not reciprocate the ban.
“BHA’s starting position was set out in the rules of racing, which state that penalties imposed by overseas recognized racing authorities will be reciprocated, a position which is echoed by the International Agreement,@ said Robin Mounsey, Media Manager of the BHA. “However, it has also been established in previous cases in regards to reciprocation that a suspension should not be reciprocated if, for example, the panel believe that the relevant disciplinary and appeal processes followed were procedurally unfair or did not accord with the relevant racing authority’s rules. Decisions on reciprocation are formally delegated
to the disciplinary panel. We cannot comment further on the decision until we have the panel’s full reasons.”
2014 Gr1 Jebel Hatta (Cosgrave centre)
In March, Cosgrave was handed a six-month ban by the ERA after it was deemed that he purposely allowed his front-running mount to drift out, allowing clear running room up the rail for Mike de Kock stablemate and eventual winner Vercingetorix (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}). The ERA reduced the ban to four months after it was appealed by Cosgrave May. The jockey had been permitted to ride up until the hearing in London yesterday.
Cosgrave’s agent Nicky Adams told PA Sport, “It’s a big relief. The season has been on hold for him, really. Although he has been riding the past few weeks, he didn’t really know where he stood. The trainers have been good, though, and very supportive of him. I’m sure it’s a big weight off his shoulders. It’s onwards and upwards now; he won’t have it hanging over him any longer. With Ascot just around the corner it has come at just the right time–he’s got a couple of nice rides lined up there.”
