Wrong course jockeys banned at Newcastle Five jockeys received 12-day suspensions after taking the wrong course in the Gosforth Decorating And Building Services Mares' Maiden Hurdle at Newcastle. There was a full circuit to go in the two-mile-six-furlong contest when Jason Maguire and his mount, Seedless, went left and on to the chase course. Four other horses, including the Peter Buchanan-ridden 6-4 favourite Catleen, seemed to follow his lead and headed the wrong side of the white railings in the middle of the track. A couple of riders realised their error in time and managed to get back on to the correct course in time. But Catleen, Glen Innis Lady (James O'Farrell), Moscow Mischief (Campbell Gillies), Ruby Queen (Paddy Aspell) and Seedless were all pulled up. Newcastle stipendiary steward Adie Smith said: "It was a straightforward decision as the jockeys came in and held their hands up. "They had their heads down and didn't realise quite where they were going until it was too late. "When they realised they'd gone the wrong side of the hurdle track they tried to pull back, but the momentum had taken them past the point of no return. "It is clearly marked on the map and most of the jockeys ride here regularly so they should familiarise themselves with the track. "It is just one of those mistakes. It's happened before and it will happen again." Buchanan and Gillies admitted to their mistakes but the latter felt the course could have been better laid out. Buchanan said: "I was following the horses in front and when I realised they were going inside, there were horses all around me and I just had nowhere to go." Gillies, who was riding the Lucinda Russell-trained Moscow Mischief, added: "I knew the rail was there but with a lot of runners it couldn't be seen by those behind until it was too late. "It was marked on the board in the weighing room, you would have thought someone would have come and spoken to the jockeys beforehand to make sure we were aware of it." Clerk of the course James Armstrong said: "The 'H' marker is there and all the maps in the weighing room are clearly defined. "They managed to ride round it perfectly fine in the first race and it was just one of those moments where the jockeys have perhaps lost their concentration." The five jockeys will be suspended between March 2-13. Maguire said of his role in the incident: "There's no excuses for my offence. "I've just got to put my hands up, apologise, and take it on the chin."
