Jockey Pat Cosgrave has been given a 28-day ban for his ride on the long odds-on favourite Concorde in the 20:00 at Chelmsford on Thursday.
Jockey Pat Cosgrave has been given a 28-day ban for his ride on the long odds-on favourite Concorde in the 20:00 at Chelmsford on Thursday.
Cosgrave was always travelling strong aboard the George Boughey-trained Concorde and made headway to draw clear of the leaders inside the final furlong. Winner on handicap debut at Redcar on Monday, three days later Concorde looked likely to record another easy victory with Cosgrave remaining still in the saddle during the closing stages. The jockey eased up before the winning post, handing victory to the fast-closing Brian Ellison-trained My Roxanne on the inside rail.
After the race, Cosgrave told Racing TV, "I sat last in the race and worked through the gears in the straight and past all the other horses. I've just made a judgement of error, a mistake, and the eventual winner has just caught me unaware.
"I made a mistake and I'd like to apologise to the owner Mr Roy and the trainer George Boughey. It's embarrassing but I have to take it on the chin. I'm really embarrassed and really sorry.
"The horse should have won. It was completely my fault and it's very unfortunate for all concerned. I'm very sorry for what happened."
The BHA stewards' report reads: "Pat Cosgrave, the rider of Concorde, placed second, beaten a nose, had failed to ride out approaching the finish. After being interviewed and showed recordings of the incident, Cosgrave was suspended for 28 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain the best possible placing on a horse that would have finished first."
