Leading Queensland jockey Shane Scriven has been suspended for five months for “borrowing” another jockey’s whip in a tight finish to a race at Ipswich last Friday.
Scriven, 42, one of the most senior and respected jockeys in Queensland, took the whip from apprentice Ben Looker after he had his whip knocked from his hand inside the final 100m.
He then used Looker’s whip as his horse Requested finished second, while Looker’s mount Toronto Dancer was a head away third.
About 50m after the post, Scriven handed the whip back to Looker. Looker did not lodge a protest and nor did stewards.
It’s believed Looker was so stunned by what had happened that protesting did not enter his mind.
Scriven later said it was a “spur of the moment” decision and something he regretted.
by Buford Balony
