Doyle decides against appeal after receiving seven-day ban for her part in weighing-room altercation with Milczarek
Julian Muscat http://www.timesonline.co.uk
A turbulent four weeks for women jockeys closed yesterday with Sophie Doyle deciding against appealing a seven-day ban for “violent and improper conduct” after she was involved in a fight with Kirsty Milczarek on Tuesday.
The two jockeys clashed in the changing room at Southwell, where no other witnesses were present. And they gave conflicting stories when interviewed by the Southwell stewards. Milczarek went unpunished but Doyle was suspended after a fracas that left Milczarek, the girlfriend of Kieren Fallon, with a black eye. Doyle admitted to the stewards that she had struck Milczarek, and apologised.
The main reason for spurning the chance of appeal is the cost. British Horseracing Authority funds that enable appealants to hire legal assistance apply only to incidents on the track.
Jacqui Doyle, the jockey’s mother and agent who also trains in Lambourn, maintained yesterday that the Southwell stewards should have held over their inquiry to another day. “Sophie rang me before she went to see the stewards and she was hysterical,” Doyle said. “She was sobbing and shrieking; I couldn’t understand a word she was saying. Now she has this label hanging over her, of being violent. The whole thing is very upsetting.”
The two jockeys rode in the final race, the 8.20, in which Doyle got up close home to edge Milczarek out of fourth place.
Doyle and Milczarek rode against each other at Salisbury yesterday, and while the race passed without incident, behind-the-scenes attempts to get the pair to reconcile their differences came to nothing. The pair, once good friends, have not spoken for two months.
It has been a feisty few weeks for women jockeys. Last week Laura Probert was banned for 28 days after her debut ride when she offered her mount minimal assistance in a tight finish and succumbed in a photo. She cited a combination of nerves and a lack of fitness.
That came three days after Charlotte Kerton failed in her appeal to overturn a 42-day ban when she was deemed to have ridden a non-trier. Kerton maintained she was suffering from “excruciating” period pains
Fight sees women jockeys trying to save faceDoyle decides against appeal after receiving seven-day ban for her part in weighing-room altercation with MilczarekJulian Muscat http://www.timesonline.co.ukA turbulent four weeks for women jockeys closed y
I'd say it started there mates sticking up for mates. But then I'd say it headed in a different direction into cyber bullying so i think we'll leave it to the BHA to sort out. . . It's been going on a couple of years, Girls will be girls let them at it 3 somes foursome all the same to me
I'd say it started there mates sticking up for mates. But then I'd say it headed in a different direction into cyber bullying so i think we'll leave it to the BHA to sort out. . . It's been going on a couple of years, Girls will be girls let them at