BHA back Dwyer and rule out ban
MaRTIN DWYER says eight months of ‘mental torture’ has come to an end after the British Horseracing authority upheld his application not to enforce a contentious 56-day ban imposed by authorities in India.
an independent panel ruled in Dwyer’s favour after the BHa had supported the rider’s application on grounds that his ban had been imposed by the Royal Western India Turf club after a process which was procedurally unfair.
Dwyer, 38, said: ‘I am relieved it is all over. It has dragged on for eight months and I feel like I have served eight months of mental torture.’
Dwyer, who won the 2006 Derby on Sir Percy, was found guilty of not riding Ice age to win after she was a beaten favourite at Mahalaxmi racecourse in February.
The filly, who finished third, hung violently right in the closing stages, and was found to have broken a blood vessel.
Track s t ewards quickly declared Ice age a non-runner as racegoers rioted. However, that act, before Dwyer could present evidence to stewards, was regarded by the BHa as prejudicial to his case.
at one stage in the Indian process, Dwyer found his ban increased to eight months.
Dwyer said: ‘The filly was beaten because she did not run in a straight line and the reason she didn’t was that something was wrong with her. The fact she bled afterwards I think showed that.’
Dwyer is unlikely to go back. He said: ‘I probably would not be welcomed back but I hope I have proved my innocence to the wider racing audience.’ a full-sister to 2012 Oaks winner Was broke the world record for the sale of a yearling filly when bought for £5.25 million by Qatar’s Sheik Joaan at Newmarket last night. The daughter of Galileo will be trained by andre Fabre in France.