Two day ban for McKeown after win
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Jason Mckeown from Newry, pictured here winning on 'Kilo Charlie' at Moneyglass recently, rode his first ever winner at Cheltenham, when 'Hoopy' scored in the Irish Times Amateur riders' race last Friday. TOMMY LECKEY 47954c
LAST Friday afternoon at Cheltenham, saw Newry rider Jason McKeown win the valuable Irish Times Amateur Riders' handicap on the Gordon Elliott trained 'Hoopy'.
McKeown came from along way off the pace to get the better of 'Alexanderthegreat' in the closing stages and score a first success at the track for the 23 year old Newry rider, however the race was not without incident, with Jason doing a Lester Piggott stunt during the race.
McKeown, who lost his whip early the race, asked jockey Donal Devereux for the lend of his, as his mount 'King Harald' was well beaten at the time and was going backwards, this persuader, played an important part in McKeown getting up to win, as he seemed to have an enormous amount to do with three to jump.
But with 'Aggie's lad' and Nina Carberry coming down at the second last and 'Best Profile' making a serious mistake, Jason Mckeown and 'Hoopy' suddenly found themselves in with a big chance, and switching whip hands to good effect, the Newry rider drove his mount to the front and went on for a three and a half lengths win. It was a first win at the famous track for McKeown.
But, it wasn't long before a stewards inquiry was called to discuss the whip incident, and following a short deliberation the local jockey was banned for two days for improper riding, being in breach of rule 153.
The great Lester Piggott done the same thing while contesting a race at Deauville in France some years before he retired. The stewards there however, took harder line on the incident, and banned Lester for 20 days.
