A JOCKEY who failed to pull up a fatally injured horse in an incident described as ‘horrible to watch’ has been banned for 50 days.
Robbie Geoghegan, a 7lb claimer, passed the post on nine-year-old Sole Pretender at Galway last Sunday despite the horse suffering a broken leg.
Geoghegan has been banned for 50 days after failing to pull up a fatally injured horse
The 15-2 chance finished last of 12 and was sadly put down soon after crossing the line in the 2m2f handicap chase.
Geoghegan told stewards he did not realise the injury was ‘as serious as it turned out to be’.
They found him in breach of Rule 216 for failing to pull up and dismount a lame or injured horse as soon as reasonably possible to do so.
However, trainer Norman Lee refused to blame the jockey for the heartbreaking scenes that unfolded in front of the packed stands.
He told the Racing Post: “I thought it was harsh on Robbie.
“He loved that horse as much as anybody and did plenty of work on him over the years.
“I used to ride him out almost every day myself but any day I didn’t Robbie would.
“It wasn’t Robbie’s fault. He just didn’t realise the extent of the injury.
“He didn’t know what was happening underneath him and didn’t realise he was so injured.
“He didn’t go very wrong straight away.”
Sole Pretender had won ten of his 27 races under rules and just under £200,000 in prize money.
He was a Grade 3 winner two years ago and claimed a Listed chase at Killarney last month with Geoghagen in the saddle.
Lee added: “We’re only a small yard and he was such a special horse for us to have.
“He won seven feature races and we’ll never have another one like him.
“This horse will be a major loss to us.”
