Arneaud, Mendez appeals fail

THE five-day ban slapped on jockey Jody Arneaud for what was described as “intimidatory and careless riding,” has been confirmed.

Arneaud who drew the ban while riding Beautiful Mind on Royal Oak Derby Day, will begin serving his suspension from Saturday. With eight more racing days left for the season, young Arneaud will be back for the final three, returning on December 6. An appeal by trainer Glenn Mendez also failed to find favour with  the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority. Beautiful Mind won the Angostura 1919 Rum Handicap but was disqualified by the stewards and placed second behind Naturelly Classy.

The appeals of Arneaud and Mendez were heard at a meeting at the TTRA office on Friday last. A release from the TTRA stated, due consideration was given to the jockey and trainer’s ground of appeal But after hearing the evidence of both jockey and rider, and Arima Race Club steward Cedric Coussement, the TTRA were of the view that there was no justification in altering  the original decisons of the stewards, as there was no merit in the grounds of appeal.