K.J. Manning Appeal – Curragh, 7th August 2011

The Appeals Body (Division One), Patrick Reidy (in the Chair), Mrs. J.O. Onions and Michael Doyle met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 17th August 2011 to consider the appeal of K.J. Manning, rider, against the decision of the Stewards at the Curragh on 7th August 2011, when following the running of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, he was suspended for three race days for careless riding.

His grounds of appeal were that the local Stewards erred in their decision to find him guilty of careless riding and that his riding did not amount to careless riding as such and as defined in the Rules of Racing in that the incident which occurred was accidental and beyond his control.

Evidence was heard from K.J. Manning and recordings of the race were also viewed.

In his evidence K.J. Manning said that his horse suddenly veered left when he was hit for the second time.  He didn’t expect that this would happen as the horse didn’t react that way after the first hit.  He said he immediately rectified the drift and that any interference caused to Frederick Engels (GB), ridden by J.P. Murtagh, was accidental.  K.J. Manning accepted that he didn’t know that J.P. Murtagh was on his inside until he heard him shouting but said that he was trying to correct his horse’s drift prior to hearing the shout.  He denied that the drift was a deliberate manoeuvre to get to the rails.
 
Having considered the evidence the Appeals Body found that K.J. Manning was in breach of Rule 214 and dismissed the appeal.  They also ordered that he pay costs of €750 (inclusive of his appeal deposit) towards the Turf Club costs.  As a result of the dismissal of the appeal K.J. Manning is suspended for 22nd, 23rd & 24th August 2011.

The case was presented by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club.  K.J. Manning was represented by Andrew Coonan, Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, Co. Kildare.