JEREMY HARLEY had his objection against the decision of the judge at Downpatrick last week not to award the Sean Graham Handicap Hurdle to his charge, Tiffany Victoria, over ruled at an inquiry in the Turf Club yesterday.
Having heard evidence from Harley and Micheal O'Donoghue, the judge at Downpatrick, the stewards confirmed Straight On as the winner, but ordered that Harley's deposit be returned.
Richard Hughes is likely to escape Jockey Club punishment for his outburst at Yarmouth on Thursday, in which he branded the track's officials the worst in Britain".
Hughes received a two day suspension (Sep 30th and Oct 1st) for careless riding after partnering Corniche Quest to victory in the William Yobnger East Anglia Handicap.
The seething jockey, who has vowed to appeal, is likely to come before the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee on Wednesday, but is unlikely to be carpeted for his post race remarks according to John Maxse, press officer at Portman Square.
"There is a rule relating to disrepute, Rule 220, which states: No person shall act in a manner which in the opinion of the stewards of the Jockey Club is prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain," said Maxse.
"Were Richard Hughes to appeal a date it could be heard would be Wednesday, and the matter could be dealt with at the same time. It is up to the disciplinary committee but my own feeling is that it would be unlikely that the stewards would take action, although I wouldn't rule it out.
"Generally I think racing can be very proud of the freedom of speech it enjoys in comparison to other sports such as football or cricket."
Hughes's agent Peter Harris, confirming the jockey's intention to appeal, expressed his anger at the decision, saying: I was flabbergasted when I saw the race, and Mark Baird, who rode the horse they said Richard interfered with, was too.
This is the track whose stewards made what in my opinion was the worst decision I have ever seen, when they threw out a horse of Henry Cecil's called Quandary, ridden by Philip Robinson, last season.
