By Bren O'Brien
Champion jockey Hugh Bowman has expressed his remorse after receiving a six-week ban for causing a fall which left a fellow jockey with serious injuries and a horse fatally injured.
Racing NSW stewards found Bowman guilty of a careless riding charge for his ride aboard Smart Image (Smart Missile) in the first race last Saturday, which was marred when Hot 'N Hazy (Snitzel) fell approaching the 300 metre mark, dislodging jockey Andrew Adkins.
Adkins underwent surgery on Sunday after suffering a fractured tibia, fibula, collarbone, ribs and a collapsed lung in the incident and remains in hospital, while the Danny Williams-trained Hot ‘N’ Hazy was humanely euthanised.
A panel, led by acting Chief Steward Wade Birch, suspended Bowman, who pleaded not guilty, until September 11.
Bowman, one of Australia's greatest jockeys and famous for his association with superstar mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), said he was deeply regretful of his actions aboard Smart Image.
"I am remorseful for the incident that happened," Bowman said in the inquiry.
"I am remorseful for the incident that happened." - Hugh Bowman
"I understand what we do is dangerous and split-second decisions can have bad consequences, as in this case.
"I’m well aware in my duty as a rider, to my fellow riders and to the animals and I think that has been borne out in my riding in recent years."
Bowman said the error of judgement was uncharacteristic in his long career.
“As a jockey with over 20 years of experience I have always prided myself on riding competitively but within the rules,” Bowman said. “All jockeys endeavour to give their mounts the best opportunity to win, while also ensuring the safety of their fellow jockeys and horses.
“Those who know me well, know that it is never my intention to risk injury to fellow jockeys and or horses when I ride and my record over many seasons attests to that.”
Andrew Adkins
While Birch admitted the incident was out of character, and the ride 'very unlike Hugh Bowman', he rode 'in a careless manner' approaching the 300 metre mark when pushing into the clear.
“Whilst riding your mount Smart Image along, you did then direct it around the heels of the leader Mr Colourful where there was insufficient room between Mr Colorful and Hot ‘N’ Hazy and in doing so made contact with Hot ‘N’ Hazy – forcing that runner across the heels of Duchess, resulting in Hot ‘N’ Hazy clipping the heels of Duchess and falling,” Birch told Bowman when handing down the charge.
He said that a charge of that nature might normally attract a suspension of three months, but given Bowman's good record, and that another horse, Mr Colorful (Headwater), had also contributed to the fall, the suspension was reduced. He is free to resume riding on September 11.
Bowman told the inquiry that the fallout from the incident, in terms of public criticism, had hit him particularly hard.
“I think given the circumstances of the drama, the consequences of my, what you (the stewards) deem carelessness, has made this a very high-profile case, much more so than your normal standard careless riding situation and thats had an effect on me, and my family,” he said.
He confirmed he has spoken to Adkins in hospital to offer his support but gave no indication after the hearing whether he would appeal the decision.
