by Frank Angst

Sometimes helping your brother, or appearing to do so, can be costly.

Woodbine stewards have suspended jockey Simon Husbands for one year after determining he did not try his hardest to win the third race on November 30 at Woodbine.

His brother, jockey Patrick Husbands, guided Come On Love to victory in the race in which Simon Husbands finished second, three-quarters of a length behind, on Bug’s Boy.

Ontario Racing Commission Supervisor of Thoroughbred Racing Brent Stone relayed the stewards’ decision.

“Mr. Husbands did not persevere with his mount throughout the race or demonstrate an effort to ensure the best and fastest race of which his mount was capable,” the statement said.

The suspension was scheduled to begin December 8, although Stone said Husbands told the commission he plans to appeal the ruling. No date has been set for the appeal hearing.

Patrick Husbands went on to win his fifth Woodbine riding title. The five-time Sovereign Award-winning jockey finished just four wins ahead of runner-up James McAleney. Patrick Husbands is a Sovereign Award finalist again this year.

A race replay is available on youtube.com.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times