Jockey outed for 18 months
Jockey Josh Cartwright has been suspended for 18 months after stewards described his reckless riding at Morphettville last month as ‘‘the worst [they had] ever seen in Australia’’.
Chairman of stewards Johan Petzer said in handing down his verdict that in all his time as a stipendiary steward he had never seen ‘‘such severe interference’’ on a racecourse.
Cartwright was charged with reckless riding after riding his mount Senior Council across the track and into two other horses in the closing stages of a race in Adelaide in January. He had pleaded guilty to the charge.
Senior Council cannoned into Go The Journey and House Of Wax in an incident that became a racing industry talking point around the country.
House Of Wax’s jockey Jason Holder managed to regather and stay on his mount after almost falling..
His girlfriend, Norwegian apprentice Anna Jordsjo, won the race on the $4 favourite, Murti.
The incident sparked national outrage, with many condemning the riding tactics adopted by the Victorian-bred jockey.
After the hearing, Cartwright apologised to the owners, trainers and jockeys of the horses he interfered with that day. Cartwright, 22, also had his trainer’s licence suspended for six months.
He has seven days to lodge an appeal. Cartwright’s lawyer, Sydney-based Wayne Pasterfield, pointed to emotional stress, pressure from family and a lack of confidence in his own ability as reasons for the young rider’s actions.