Glamorous jockey cops huge suspension for assaulting another female rider after the pair clashed during race

A jockey from Queensland, Australia, has been suspended for assaulting a fellow female jockey during a post-race dispute.

Tessa Townsend grabbed apprentice jockey Savannah McCann by the neck and pushed her against a door after race three at Longreach on Monday.

She has been suspended from riding for six months and fined $2000 for the altercation. 

The pair had been running close together during the race and Townsend grabbed and pushed McCann against the female jockeys' room door during a heated spat.

McCann was stood down from the day's remaining races following a concussion test. Townsend was stood down after race five. 

'Stewards inquired into an altercation between apprentices S McCann and T Townsend after the running of race three,' the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards' report said.

'Subsequent to the running of race three apprentice Townsend engaged in improper conduct by engaging in a physical altercation with apprentice S McCann by grabbing her around the chest or neck area and pushed her against the female jockeys' room door.

'Ms Townsend was found guilty of the charge and fined $2000 with $1000 of the penalty wholly suspended for two years conditional on no breaches of the conduct rules in that period.'

Three months of the six month suspension will be suspended for two years, pending no further breaches.

Despite there being witnesses to the incident, Townsend entered a not guilty plea. 

'Townsend conducted herself in a manner prejudicial to the image of racing in the area outside the steward's room by forcibly striking apprentice S McCann in the back of the head in full public view which resulted in industry participants taking a course of action to separate the two parties.

'In assessing both penalties stewards considered the riders not guilty plea, clear record of 16 years involvement in the industry, the need for penalties to serve as a specific and general deterrent, Ms Townsend derives her income solely from riding, this type of behaviour cannot be condoned and the requirements placed upon stewards to consider the Human Rights Act 2019 and the effect of any potential penalty.'