Winston set to appeal 22-day Southwell ban
He finished second on Zenarinda in the Follow Us On Twitter At bluesq Handicap, but was found to have used his whip excessively, and down the shoulder in the forehand position.
Winston’s punishment was so severe as it was his second such offence within the previous 12 months.
The appeal, to be heard by the disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority, will take place on Thursday.
Winston’s agent, Simon Dodds, said: “He will be appealing.
“I can’t say much more at this stage obviously other than it will be heard on Thursday.”
Winston added: ``Basically I used my stick in a corrective measure as my horse was hanging to the left.
“I had to give her three strokes down the shoulder with the forehand to get her competitive.
“I didn’t count them as I thought they were as a corrective measure, and then I used it (the whip) seven times behind the saddle.
“I have never hit a horse down the shoulder ever, so that’s why I didn’t count them – I thought they (the stewards) would see it was a corrective measure.
“I put my stick down half a furlong out as I’d used my seven. I was a neck down, but got beat half a length so clearly she was responding to the whip.
“I feel like I can’t be competitive any more as I feel like I didn’t do enough.
“Two years ago I probably would have hit her 16 times and I probably would have won, with people saying what a hero I was.
“It’s my career and livelihood that are being messed with. I’m being portrayed to be cruel to animals, and I’m not.
“I’m not holding my breath over the appeal – not many are won.
“The penalty structure is too harsh,” he told At The Races.
