Dwyer's ban reduced on appeal Martin Dwyer has had an eight-month riding suspension reduced to 56 days at an appeal hearing in India, tweeted Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers. The Derby-winning jockey, 38, finished a narrow third on market leader Ice Age at Mahalaxmi racecourse in Mumbai on February 17, which prompted an angry response from racegoers. He was initially suspended for 56 days, but the stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club concluded in August that Dwyer should be given a far stiffer punishment after he was adjudged not to have ridden the filly on her merits. An appeal board of the RWITC has now shown some leniency by reducing Dwyer's ban at the jockey's hearing at Pune racecourse. Dwyer intends to appeal to the British Horseracing Authority not to reciprocate the revised suspension. Struthers tweeted: "It is still a disgraceful decision and the RWITC have gone totally against their own rules by failing to uphold Martin's appeal in full. "An application will be made to BHA press office on Monday requesting the ban is not reciprocated and for stay of penalty pending hearing." A head-on video of the race showed Ice Age drift towards the rail in the closing stages, during which time Dwyer's mount bumped the eventual runner-up and caused the jockey to snatch up his mount. RWITC stewards called an inquiry and announced the horse was to be deemed a non-starter, with all bets refunded. Dwyer has always claimed that that his mount had not moved correctly and that she had suffered a nosebleed during the race. The jockey outlined a comprehensive list of his grounds for appeal and detailed submissions to the RWITC appeal board. Dwyer, who won the 2006 Epsom Derby aboard Sir Percy, flew out to India on Friday morning and is due to return to England on Sunday. The BHA said Dwyer has until Tuesday to apply to the racing authority to ask not to reciprocate the suspension.
