Irish jockey Jamie Spencer was today suspended from riding for 17 days, four of which will be deferred until July 3rd, at a disciplinary hearing today.
The penalty was imposed by the Jockey Club's disciplinary committee for his latest riding offence involving interference.
The inquiry was held to decide whether Spencer, who was riding Tarboush, committed a breach of Rule 153 of the Rules of Racing concerning interference.
The hearing concerned his riding at Lingfield Park on December 12th. The matter was referred to the stewards of the Jockey Club by the Lingfield stewards.
The referral was made because 21-year-old Spencer had been suspended from riding for 18 days for interference offences within the previous 12 months.
The committee considered evidence from Spencer and also viewed video recordings of the race.
It accepted an admission from Spencer that Tarboush had interfered with Neil Pollard's mount Mersey Sound and that the interference was caused by irresponsible riding of a minor nature.
He admitted that he created a gap by a manoeuvre when it ought to have been obvious that interference would be the result.
Taking into account that Spencer had been suspended for 18 days for interference since June 19th last year, it imposed the suspension, which will commence on Friday, January 11th until Friday, January 25th on days on which Flat racing is scheduled to take place.