Chad Schofield with his Mom and Dad
Cox Plate winning jockey Chad Schofield ignited a controversy at Caulfield on Saturday when he claimed he is being victimised by Melbourne stewards after he was banned for one month on two careless riding charges.
The former champion apprentice will miss four feature Saturday fixtures and several Group One races after stewards issued two suspensions arising from his ride on You’re So Good in the Australian Defence Force Handicap.
Schofield won four Group One races last season and only returned to race riding from two months out with a neck injury 10 days ago.
Chief steward Terry Bailey gave Schofield, the son of leading Sydney jockey Glyn Schofield, a dressing down for shifting in on You’re So Good between the 900m and 800m that resulted in his first suspension until September 19.
Schofield incurred a second suspension to be served concurrently for careless riding near the winning post.
Bailey said the young jockey’s actions showed no respect for his fellow riders and was critical of Schofield’s evidence during the inquiry.
“It’s high range and it went on too long,” Bailey told Schofield.
“We’re tired of it. Everyone is tired of it. And there was a similar lack of respect in your evidence in here.”
Schofield, who has had several careless riding suspensions in his short career, told stewards he felt victimised.
He told Bailey he felt it was “unfair” to say he didn’t show respect to his fellow jockeys when crossing early in the race.
Schofield admitted he should have allowed You’re So Good to stride further before coming across but told stewards he didn’t believe there was interference.
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