Davy..don’t punch horses & I won’t write about it!
THE judicial process can reflect on a job well done when the offender sees the error of his ways and returns to society a changed man.
Sadly, in the case of Davy Russell, that day appears some way off.
On Tuesday, Russell was banned for four days for punching Kings Dolly in the back of the head before the start of a hurdle race at Tramore 18 days previously.
The Irish Turf Club’s appeals board actually believed five days to be the “appropriate” punishment but knocked a day off in recognition of the fact the drawn-out saga — the original sanction, a caution, was set aside for being too lenient — had put a strain on the jockey and his family.
Representing himself at the hearing, Russell (right) readily passed up the opportunity to show contrition for his caught-on-camera misdeed and instead turned on the press.
Insisting there was no malice (plausible) and no anger (much less so) in the punch, the jockey hit out at the media’s “disgraceful” and “unacceptable” coverage of the saga.
Russell’s rant received some backing from various hangers-on, who — clinging grimly to the ‘how-many-winners-have-you-ridden?’ line — claimed those who dared to criticise weren’t ‘horsemen’.
Others added nothing to the debate with the contention the blow caused more hurt to the assailant’s hand than to the victim’s head — best not to use this as a defence if you ever find yourself before the beak on an assault charge.
Unlike Russell, I’ve never won the Gold Cup, and the dream of landing the Irish jump jockeys’ title — he has two of them — is fading fast.
But such qualifications aren’t necessary to condemn somebody who punches a horse in the head, and not just on the grounds of bringing the sport into disrepute. This was an affront to equine welfare.
Anyone beating the drum that Russell was hard done by should consider how similarly idiotic attacks are dealt with in the real world.
In 2013, Newcastle United fan Barry Rogerson was given 12 months in prison for punching a police horse after his team had gone down 3-0 to local rivals Sunderland.
And Russell’s sentence looks pitifully flimsy when compared to the 14 days off he received last year for being rude to the Clonmel stewards.
Truth is, if he’s the horsemen myriad jump devotees believe him to be, he shouldn’t have to close his hand in order to control his mount.
Can you imagine Sir Henry Cecil ever needing recourse to his fists, and giving a troublesome two-year-old a right hook? Neither can I. If Russell’s looking for the source of the problem, the press room isn’t the place to start. He’d save time by beginning the search a lot closer to home. But I’m happy to strike a bargain with you Davy. If you don’t punch horses in the head, I won’t write about it.
Do we have a deal?