Billy Loughnane ban reduced to 14 days for Southwell incident

Billy Loughnane has had his 21-day ban reduced to 14 days after the British Horseracing Authority “obtained further evidence from parties present at the start” following the race in question at Southwell.

Loughnane was due to ride Beelzebub in the Midnite: Built For 2026 Not 2006 Handicap on March 26, but his mount was kicked down at the start and subsequently withdrawn by the vets who deemed him to be lame.

The jockey then rode his mount back to the stable but he was initially found guilty of acting against the instructions of the vet and banned for 21 days, ruling him out of the Classic trials.

He had spoken of his intention to appeal, but a statement released by the BHA on Thursday indicated Loughnane did not hear the instruction not to ride his horse back.

It read: “Having obtained further evidence from parties present at the start of Race 7, the Midnite: Built For 2026 Not 2006 Handicap at Southwell on 26 March 2026, and reviewed this alongside the evidence given to the stewards on the day, the BHA can confirm that a decision has been taken to reduce the penalty imposed on Billy Loughnane for breaching Rule (J)20 to a suspension of 14 days. This has been accepted by Mr Loughnane and as such, an appeal hearing is no longer necessary.

“It has been established that an instruction given by the Veterinary Surgeon at the start was not heard by Mr Loughnane. As such, he was unaware of the instruction given not to ride Beelzebub back and therefore cannot be said to have ignored it.

“However, while Mr Loughnane was of the belief that he was able to ride the horse back to the unsaddling area, he accepts that the horse was withdrawn as a result of the vet finding that the horse was lame upon being withdrawn on veterinary advice, having been assessed and trotted by the vet after having received a kick. He was therefore correctly found in breach of Rule (J)20 as he should not have ridden the horse back.”