Leading jockey Hugh Bowman will miss the start of the Spring Racing Carnival after he was handed a six-week suspension for his involvement in a horror fall at Rosehill Gardens last weekend.Bowman was on Thursday rubbed out for six weeks at the discretion of the Racing NSW Stewards after he had pleaded not guilty to a charge of careless riding that saw fellow jockey Andrew Adkins taken to hospital and his mount Hot'N'Hazy euthanised.Bowman believed there was sufficient enough gap to angle his ride in from the rail, but in doing so, his horse, Smart Image, made heavy contact with Hot'N'Hazy who then subsequently tripped and sent Adkins tumbling to the track.Adkins remains in Sydney's Westmead Hospital, where he is nursing a collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and two fractured bones in a leg.Bowman's suspension was downgraded from three months to six weeks on account of his good riding record, but Racing NSW Stewards said the champion jockey still needed to spend a significant amount of time on the sidelines.Bowman said that jockeys were required to make split-second decisions, but he would never intentionally place the safety of another horse or jockey in danger. I look forward to riding against [Adkins] upon his return. "Those who know me well know that it is never my intention to risk injury to fellow jockeys and/or horses when I ride and my record over many seasons attests to that. The top jockey and regular rider of champion Winx was on Thursday suspended for six weeks for careless riding aboard Smart Image at the final meeting of the 2019-20 season at Rosehill. He wants to stop kids becoming criminalsAnalysis: The share market will focus on the raw truth.
"I've been found careless and despite the fact of pleading not guilty, I am remorseful the incident happened. Prominent jockey Hugh Bowman has been suspended for his role in a raceday fall that forced a horse to be euthanised and left a rival jockey hospitalised with multiple broken bones.Bowman, who piloted Winx to many of her victories, was banned for six weeks for careless riding aboard Smart Image at the final meeting of the 2019-20 season at Rosehill.Bowman was attempting to angle off the fence on Smart Image near the 300-metre mark to position himself outside the heels of the leader, Mr Colorful, ridden by Glyn Schofield.As he shifted, he made heavy contact with Andrew Adkins' mount Hot 'N' Hazy, which clipped heels and fell.The horse was euthanised, while Adkins broke both bones in one of his legs, fractured his shoulder and suffered seven broken ribs.He underwent surgery on his injuries, including having a rod placed in his leg, a plate in his collar bone and had to have a chest tube inserted to relieve a collapsed lung.Bowman maintained his position that he took due care aboard Smart Image and other factors contributed to the scrimmage.Bowman said the social media reaction to his role in the raceday fall had taken a toll on him and his family, and before the hearing said he would "like that to be considered" in any penalties.He pleaded not guilty to the charge of careless riding and said while head-on footage showed there was insufficient room for his horse between Mr Colorful and Hot 'N' Hazy, the rear angle presented a different case.Bowman did admit his timing might have been slightly out because he had not ridden in a race for five weeks and also expressed remorse at the consequences suffered by Adkins and Hot 'N' Hazy.
In all the circumstances, Stewards determined an appropriate penalty was a suspension of Jockey Hugh Bowman’s licence to ride in races for a period of 6 weeks to commence immediately and expire on Friday, 11 th September 2020, on which day he may resume riding.