Jockey Club guidelines on riders who fail tests for alcohol are to come under review after riders Keith Dalgleish and Joe Fanning left Portman Square with only a caution after a disiciplinary panel hearing yesterday.
The two jockeys gave alcohol readings of between 54 and 108 milligrams per 100 millilitres, the upper figure being the legal limit for driving. Had either produced a reading of above 108mg, he would have faced a recommended suspension of up to one month. Having failed his test at Redcar back on September 15th, Dalgleish's case took more than three months to be heard, while Fanning gave his positive sample at the same track on November 3rd.
Both riders were stood down for the rest of that day on the grounds of safety.
More than 30 years after his first Group One success, Pat Eddery yesterday gained his final big-race victory as a jockey as Balmont was promoted to first place in the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes on the disqualification of Three Valleys.
The latter lost the race at a Jockey Club disciplinary panel hearing after failing a drugs test.
Three Valleys, trained by Roger Charlton, is one of the leading contenders for Classic honours this year but after the colt had won the Newmarket feature, he tested postive for clenbuterol, a drug used under the trade name Ventipulmin to clear up a lung infection and aid normal breathing.
Trainer Henry Cecil and jockey Richard Quinn have parted ways. Quinn has decided not to accept a retainer from Cecil's yard for the coming Flat season and will be "keeping his options open" instead.
The rider enjoyed his first full season at Warren Place in 2000 and he partnered 16 winners for Cecil last season. However, the 266-mile round trip to Newmarket from Quinn's home in Great Shefford near Newbury has proved to be one of the main reasons for Quinn's decision.
"I was getting worn out travelling from the Newbury area at 4.30 a.m., coming to Newmarket, then going racing and then going home." Cecil, the 10-time champion trainer, is on holiday until the end of the month and will consider riding plans when he returns.
