Pitt hit by Thirsk stewards

Trainer Tim Pitt was fined £6,000 (€9,000) and jockey James O’Reilly suspended for 30 days following the running and riding of Jordan’s Light at Thirsk this afternoon.

The horse was also banned from running for 40 days after finishing sixth in the one-mile Racing UK Handicap.

The local stewards held an inquiry into why the three-year-old gelding had in their view appeared to be tenderly ridden throughout when beaten no more than four lengths.

Pitt, in the limelight of late thanks to the Group One exploits of sprinter Les Arcs, was found in breach of Rule 155 and O’Reilly in breach of Rule 157.

The penalty handed out to Pitt is the second-largest under the ‘non-triers’ rule, the original £6,500 given to Sir Michael Stoute following the running of Florimund at Windsor being the largest.

That punishment was later increased to £8,500 following an unsuccessful appeal yesterday.

Stoute was left fuming by events at Horseracing Regulatory Authority headquarters, and asked if he had any comment about it at Goodwood today, he said: “I have plenty of thoughts – none I’m sharing at present, but I will soon.”