This really looks ugly on the replay. Thankfully the other jockey was not hurt, but two months seems light to me. This could have killed someone.
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Yeah, that looks pretty intentional. No way 2 months is ok. Like thereâs not enough risk in that job already⊠Jerk 
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Two months seems very light. We donât, of course, know why a top jockey did such an outrageous thing to a fellow pro. I also suspect that when he does return to riding, the social consequences of his behaviour will continue for a few more weeks and months within the tight-knit world of jockeys.
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ButâŠ
However, the jockey will be able to ride in Sundayâs Qatar Prix de lâArc de Triomphe (G1) as the suspension starts Oct. 14 and ends Dec. 12.
They really slapped him around real hard for knocking the jockey out of the saddle
France Galopâs (theyâre the French racing authority) hands are tied because of the way the rules are written now. Thatâs about to change.
Soumillon is also in danger of losing his contract as first rider with the Aga Khanâs stable, which is a very big deal.
Finally, here is another jockeyâs take on what happened:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/ruby-walsh-its-a-racing-manoeuvre-and-christophe-did-not-get-it-right/581709
For anyone who might have missed it, there was some shenanigans in the Lukas Classic Stakes on Saturday. Rich Strikeâs jockey Sonny Leon leaned a âbit too farâ to the left, and he earned a 15-days suspension for it. On top of that, according to the âBelmont At The Aâ commentators on Sunday, Sonny Leonâs actions may have directly cost Rich Strike the race.
Here is the race:
The Lukas Classic Stakes 2022 (FULL RACE) | NBC Sports - YouTube
Below is the show with the day-after comments on Sunday. The first discussion is at around 1:25:00, and the second (where they mention the suspension) is at 5:07:25. There was some after-race talk between the jockey Sonny Leon and the trainer (I believe) at about 1:21:55, too.
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The Sonny Leon thing has been all abuzz on horse racing Twitter. I do not buy the excuse that Sonnyâs saddle slipped, causing him to nearly jump aboard Hot Rod Charlie. If your saddle is slipping to the leftâŠyou shove your weight and lean to the RIGHT to correct it. At the very least youâd probably hunker down centered and squeeze your knees on the withers for dear life as the wire was approaching.
Both horses drifted to the center of the track. HRC definitely altered his path and drifted away from left hand urging. But Rich Strike also came in a little, uncorrected by Sonny, and perhaps even caused by him over-weighting the left side. I think Sonny knows Rich Strike may run better âwith a fightâ and was looking to hook up to HRCâŠbut the attempt to shove into Tyler Gafflione was pretty senseless and certainly gained no advantage. Dumb race riding, IMO.
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Soumillon did indeed lose his retainer as top jockey for the Aga Khan.
For those not familiar, itâs not uncommon for trainers or owners in European racing to pay a retainer to their preferred jockey, ensuring that rider will be available for whatever runners that stable enters. William Buick is Godolphinâs first call rider, for example.
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