‘Incredibly embarrassing’ – Drink-riding jockeys banned and fined after failed alcohol tests

TWO Irish jockeys have each been given 21-day bans and a €1,000 fine after being over the legal drinking limit saw them stepped down from racing on the final day of the Galway Festival. Irishmen Leigh Roche, 34, and Eoin Staples, 22, heard of their fate on Tuesday. Leigh Roche has been given a 21 day ban and €1,000 fine for having too much alcohol in his system at the Galway Festival Credit: x Eoin Staples was handed the same punishment Back at the beginning of August both jockeys failed the alcohol test on the seventh and final day of the Galway Festival and were stepped down. Staples, who is reigning champion Irish conditional jumps jockey, returned an alcolmeter test reading of 59 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – comfortably above the permitted level of 22 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, which is the legal drink-driving limit in Ireland. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! And the alcolmeter result wasn’t the only bad one Staples had during the week, as the amateur didn’t manage any winners from his four festival rides. Meanwhile Roche, who has partnered over 350 winners on the flat, produced an amber reading followed by a red reading – an alcolmeter returned a reading of 79 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. READ MORE IN HORSE RACING The older of the two jockeys gave a higher reading and rode more winners at the Galway Festival, as Roche came away with two wins. Both jockeys accepted they were in the wrong after whatever boozy endeavours they had engaged in before racing. According to the Racing Post, youngster Staples was, “remorseful and embarrassed by the incident which arose due to an error of judgement”. The 22-year-old accepted his wrongdoing and said that the incident was “incredibly embarrassing for him and his family and wished he could have the time back again”. Most read in Sport Meanwhile, more experienced Roche showed similar remorse, saying that, he had “reflected on the matter and would ensure that there was no recurrence”. Staples, who won on Gavin Cromwell’s Brown Advisory runner Now Is The Hour at Gowran Park in January, will be out of action from September 11 to October 13, while Roche will be unavailable from September 8 to October 5. FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Comment now