Experienced jockey Glenn Lynch has been banned from riding at TAB meetings for six months after a series of careless riding suspensions which stewards said demonstrated an inadequate duty of care towards his fellow riders.
Lynch, who was the regular partner of star sprinting filly Gold Edition in her early career, appeared before Racing NSW stewards on Friday after being referred to the Riding Skills Panel (RSP) last month.
Lynch was sent to the RSP after he incurred two suspensions at Cessnock on May 21, resulting in a three-month suspension.
His record showed 11 careless riding suspensions in the preceding 18 months including one at Tamworth on September 17 which involved a fall in which Harry Singh was injured.
At Friday’s hearing, stewards adopted the recommendations of the RSP comprising former jockeys Maurice Logue and Ron Quinton and senior steward Marc Van Gestel and placed limitations on Lynch’s licence.
They include:
* A minimum of six sessions of professional counselling with a recognised sports psychologist that addresses the issues displayed in his riding, particularly in regard to the duty of care he is displaying to fellow riders and the desperation shown in his riding technique.
* On his return from suspension in August, Lynch will be restricted to riding at non-TAB meetings in NSW until February next year.
* After the completion of the first six month period of riding at TAB race meetings, the RSP will assess G Lynch’s riding with a view to making a recommendation concerning whether any conditions will continue to be attached to his jockey’s licence.
* Lynch will not be able to ride in races more than four days in any seven day period and any application to vary that shall not be entertained before August 11, 2014.
Lynch was put on notice that should the duty of care shown by him to fellow riders not be adequate the recommendations may include that his jockey’s licence be revoked.
