Queensland based Australian jockey Luke Tarrant was given a six-month ban after head-butting fellow rider Larry Cassidy at Doomben on Wednesday.

Jockey Tarrant pleaded guilty to a charge after he was involved in in a verbal altercation with Cassidy at the Queensland track. 

The stewards report said: “Jockey L. Tarrant pleaded guilty to a charge under AR115(1)(a) in that he misconducted himself after being involved in a verbal altercation with jockey L. Cassidy in the vicinity of the scales area by head-butting jockey Cassidy, resulting in his helmet making contact with the nose of jockey Cassidy and causing jockey Cassidy an injury.”

Tarrant was banned for six months, with the suspension due to expire on 22 October 2020.

The stewards also stated: “In considering penalty, stewards took into account the significant contact to jockey Cassidy and also the breach of the COVID-19 social distancing protocols currently in place, and the potential for his actions to have an adverse effect on the racing industry.”

Tarrant has had numerous brushes with the law in the past including betting and drug related issues and suspensions.