O'Neill gets one-day ban for headbutting horse
Paul O’Neill has been banned for one day by the disciplinary panel of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority for improper riding on City Affair before the horse ran at Stratford.
Television cameras showed the conditional jockey appearing to headbutt his mount before the Claydon Horse Exercisers Novices’ Selling Hurdle Race on July 23.
O’Neill had been unshipped by the gelding, trained by John O’Shea, after arriving at the start. The combination went on to finish fourth in the race.
The penalty range for improper riding ranges from a caution up to 21 days. O’Neill will serve his suspension on August 11.
