A jockey was fined by stewards at Tramore racecourse on New Year’s Day after a car park attendant reported receiving abuse when he told him the car park was full
A jockey has been slapped with a fine for allegedly unleashing “serious verbal abuse” on a car park attendant.
Liam Quinlan, a jump jockey who has notched up 56 career victories in Ireland, was competing at Tramore’s New Year’s Day meeting where he had just one ride. A packed crowd of 7,500 punters had witnessed local trainer Henry De Bromhead claim the headline prize – the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Chase with Heart Wood.
Quinlan was aboard Toor Moon in the day’s closing race, with his mount going off as a 9-2 shot in the two miles and seven furlongs handicap chase but trailing home a disappointing ninth of 10 runners, beaten by a massive 41 lengths, despite making some early running.
But trouble brewed when car park attendant Peter Keane reported the jockey to stewards, alleging he’d been on the receiving end of “serious verbal abuse”, after informing Quinlan the car park was at capacity, reports the Mirror.
While Quinlan protested his innocence over being “really abusive”, officials found him guilty of breaching Racing’s Rule 272, which covers misconduct and behaviour damaging to the sport’s reputation.
The County Tipperary rider from Littleton turned professional in 2019, with his crowning moment coming aboard Sequoiaspirit in the lucrative Tara Handicap Hurdle at Navan in 2024. He’s managed six winners this campaign so far.
The stewards’ official report stated: “The Raceday Stewards received a report from Mr. Peter Keane, a parking attendant on the day, that he received serious verbal abuse from rider L. Quinlan.
“Evidence was heard from Mr. Peter Keane who stated that on informing L. Quinlan that the car park was full he received continual serious verbal abuse.
“Evidence was also heard from L. Quinlan who stated that he attempted to park in what he deemed to be the jockey’s carpark, however Mr Keane advised him that the carpark was full.
“He further stated that he was not really abusive. Having considered the matter the Raceday Stewards found L. Quinlan to be in breach of Rule 272 and having considered his clean record in this regard, they fined him €250 on this occasion.”