The Appeals Body (Division Two) N.B. Wachman (in the Chair), Sean Barry and Philip Caffrey met at the Turf Club, Curragh, Co Kildare on Tuesday, 3rd February 2015 to consider the appeal of Gary Carroll, rider, against the decision of the Stewards at Dundalk on 16th January 2015.  On that date the Stewards found that he had ridden carelessly by persevering through a closing gap in the latter stages of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey and Trainer Championship Maiden.  As a result he was suspended for three race days.

His grounds of appeal were that he did not ride carelessly and that the Stewards erred in their decision.

Evidence was heard from Gary Carroll.  The Committee also considered a transcript of the evidence given at the original enquiry and viewed a film of the race.

In his evidence, Garry Carroll outlined what occurred.  He said he was making his run on Mountain Kingdom and was entering a gap.  However as soon as he committed to go through the gap, Escaping Midge, ridden by Fergal Lynch, started to veer right with the result that the gap closed and he was carried across the track, which caused him to interfere with the other horses.  He said he would have finished second or third if he had got a clear run.  He was adamant that he did not cause any interference and said that he did not persevere though the gap when it closed.  He further stated that he was lucky he didn’t clip heels as a result of the incident.

Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body found that Gary Carroll was not guilty of careless riding and allowed the appeal.

The case was presented by Paul Murtagh, Stipendiary Steward.  Gary Carroll was represented by Frank Ward, Frank Ward & Co Solicitors, Dublin 7.  Patrick Reidy, Reidy Stafford & Co Solicitors, Newbridge, Co Kildare acted as legal assessor.