Neil Callan receives a 12-day ban after finishing two-mile race EARLY
Jockey Neil Callan receives a 12-day ban after accidentally finishing two-mile race EARLY on 50-1 shot Ballet Blanc… as the embarrassed rider admits he made a ‘complete cock-up’
- Jockey Neil Callan has been banned for 12 days for riding a finish a lap too soon
- He accidentally sent his horse to the finish on the first circuit of a two-mile race
- The jockey apologised and said: ‘I made a mistake – it was a complete cock-up’
- Ballet Blanc subsequently finished 115 lengths behind the winner Blazeon Five
Neil Callan has been banned for 12 days after riding to the finish of a race a lap too soon at Kempton on Wednesday.
The jockey, who was riding Ballet Blanc in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap, issued an apology after sending his horse to the finish on the first lap on a two-mile race.
Callan, who was leading the race, suddenly pulled away from the pack, booting his horse five or six lengths clear as the other jockeys watched on in confusion.
Jockey Neil Callan has been banned for 12 days after riding his horse to the finish a lap too soon
The bemused commentator Mark Johnston said: ‘Ballet Blanc is clear by about five lengths but they still have got a circuit to go!’
As the veteran crossed what he thought was the finish line, in his mind pulling off a huge upset at 50-1, Ballet Blanc slowed down and drifted wide while the trailing horses caught up.
Callan then watched on in horror as the other jockeys fired off on their second lap, leaving Ballet Blanc in their wake.
‘I made a mistake – it was a complete cock-up.’ he said after finishing last out of ten horses and 115 lengths behind the winner Blazeon Five.
‘I watched the replay back [with the stewards] and held my hands up straight away.
The jockey attacked what he thought was the final straight on the first lap of the two-mile race
‘I’ve contacted Amanda (Perrett, trainer) to tell me the cost of what entry fees were and I will pay it.
‘It’s something I never thought I’d do in my career.’
The stewards report said: ‘Neil Callan, the rider of Ballet Blanc, unplaced, had appeared to ride a finish a circuit too soon.
The rest of the pack swiftly caught up with Ballet Blanc as the jockey slowed down to celebrate
‘After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, the rider was suspended for 12 days.’
Callan was found to be in breach of Rule 151 – also known as the ‘Non-triers Rule’ – which states that a jockey must: ‘take all reasonable and permissible measures possible throughout a race to ensure that their horse is given a full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing’.
The jockey is banned between November 9-12, November 14-19, November 26 and November 28.
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