Britain’s Horseracing Regulatory Authority gave a one-day ban to Jockey Paul O’Neill for head-butting his horse before a race in Stratford on July 23. The Authority watched a TV footage that shows O’Neill lowering the butt of his helmet into the horse’s nose.

"If the horse had been injured then that is very different as it is abuse and we would throw the book at a jockey, Malcolm Wallace, a member of the HRA, said. "It is very important to remember this horse was not injured . . . so the penalty of one day is consistent with a jockey who was also given one day for throwing his whip at a horse.''

The 26-year-old Irish jockey said that he was pleased the hearing was over and that he accepted the judgment of the panel. O’Neill also said that he was sorry. "I now want to put this incident behind me and get on with my career."