May 5, 2014, UK ~ An appeal by Irish Jockey Pat Cosgrave has reduced his riding ban to four months from six.

Cosgrave had recently appealed a ruling by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) for a sanction against his ride on Anaerobio in the Jebel Hatta on March 8 in Dubai. The ERA ruling was that Cosgrave moved Anaerobio over to allow stablemate Vercingetorix a clear run at the win. In that race, Vercingetorix won but Anaerobio finished third. The sanction originally gave Cosgrave a six months riding suspension.

The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) has lodged an application on behalf of Pat Cosgrave with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to request that they not honor the suspension in the UK.

Paul Struthers, Chief Executive of PJA, stated that he believed the ERA board had seriously erred in its judgement on this suspension. He further stated that “We have serious misgivings about the Rules and Stewarding in Dubai and do not believe that jockeys can be assured of a fair hearing.”

The outcome is pending.

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