Beschizza Suspended 15 Days for Fair Grounds Infraction

Stewards at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have suspended jockey Adam Beschizza for 15 calendar days for careless riding aboard Confederate Yell during the ninth race Jan. 24, a race marred by a spill that resulted in injuries to two other riders.

The suspension is stiffer than for a customary riding infraction, but not the steepest of spill-related suspensions over the past year. In one example from last year, Gulfstream Park stewards handed Paco Lopez a 30-day suspension for his role in a Jan. 31 spill that injured jockeys Romero Maragh and Carlos Montalvo. 

The incident at Fair Grounds occurred on the second turn when Confederate Yell was ruled to have impeded trailing horses. Another horse in the race, Miss You Jo, then clipped heels with a horse and fell, dislodging jockey Jack Gilligan. Jacobs Flyer was unable to avoid the fallen horse, unseating rider Shaun Bridgmohan.

Ohmymy Ohmyyes, racing in the rear half of the pack, made contact with a fallen horse when attempting to jump clear. He was eased by jockey Mitchell Murrill.

After a stewards' inquiry, Confederate Yell was disqualified and placed sixth for causing interference. 

A banged-up Bridgmohan had not resumed riding through Jan. 30. Gilligan broke his collarbone, nose, and eye sockets, according to a blog post from his father, Patrick Gilligan, on the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary website.

Beschizza, the leading rider at Fair Grounds last year, entered the Jan. 30 racing program tied for fourth in the jockey standings with 28 winners, five behind leader Colby Hernandez. He is suspended through Feb. 13.

Bridgmohan is tied for sixth with 21 winners. Gilligan has ridden six winners at the meet, including Silver Dust in the Louisiana Stakes (G3).