BILLY LOUGHNANE – the record-breaking jockey labelled ‘the next Frankie Dettori’ – has been hit with a 21-day ban over an incident at Southwell.
‘Billy The Kid’ as he is affectionately known by punters was officially charged under the ‘improper riding’ rule.
Loughnane, 20, was aboard the David Loughnane-trained Beelezbub before the start of the final race on Thursday’s card.
The horse was kicked by another and withdrawn by vets having deemed to be lame.
Loughnane’s error was in riding the injured horse back down from the start against the vet’s instructions.
Stewards immediately held an enquiry and decided a 21-day ban was appropriate.
Their report read: “Billy Loughnane the rider of Beelzebub, had ridden his mount back from the start after the gelding had been withdrawn by the Veterinary Surgeon, as it was found to be lame due to being kicked at the start.
“The rider, the BHA Veterinary Officer and the Racecourse Veterinary Surgeon were interviewed.
“Loughnane was suspended for 21 days for improper riding in that in riding his mount back, he had acted against the instructions of the Veterinary Surgeon.”
However, trainer Loughnane, no relation to the jockey, was of the opinion stewards had got it wrong.
He claimed his horse had been withdrawn due to a graze on one of his legs.
Loughnane said the six-year-old gelding had had a mark on that leg since arriving at his yard last month.
The trainer told the Racing Post that Loughnane’s ban was ‘mind-boggling’, adding: “I’ll be getting a vet to do a full report on the horse because it’s absolutely mind-boggling.
“If that’s the way our sport is going we’re in serious trouble.
“We’re all in the sport for the same reason – we love horses and our priority is horse welfare – but there has to be a bit of common sense come into play with the BHA.”
Loughnane is banned from April 9-30, meaning he misses the Craven meeting and the Greenham at Newbury.
The trailblazing jockey etched his name into the record books when smashing Kieren Fallon’s 21st century record for winners in a calendar year in 2025.
He currently sits second in the jockey championship behind Oisin Murphy, who himself is currently banned.
Murphy watched on as Ryan Moore – who was pulled from rides worth £7million in Dubai – steered the former Champion Hurdler to victory at Kempton on Wednesday, having rode him on his electrifying Flat debut at Southwell last month.
Dettori has heaped praise on Loughnane in the past, saying: “For a young jockey with that little experience, he seems very mature already.
“Out of the young guys, he’s the most talented.”
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