Yahoo Sport 
EXCLUSIVE: What really happened in jockey fracas at Goodwood
Former champion jockey Jim Crowley was “sucker-punched with a rolled-up pound of lead” by fellow jockey Raul Da Silva in a weighing-room fracas, according to an eyewitness in the Goodwood weighing room on Sunday.
The incident left Crowley, 39, with a cut and split lip that needed medical attention.
The incident occurred after the first race in which Brazilian-born Da Silva, 31, finished last aboard Medieval and Crowley was fifth, having partnered Charles Molson.
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A number of jockeys complained to Da Silva about his riding as they returned to the weigh-in and a heated discussion continued in the weighing room.
In an exclusive with Genting Bet, one jockey, who cannot be named for legal purposes, said: “Crowley walked away after confronting Da Silva about his dangerous riding. Da Silva then attacked him from behind and sucker-punched him with a rolled-up pound of lead in his hand, and then ran off”.
There were at least eight eye-witnesses to the incident and four other jockeys, Martin Dwyer, Jack Mitchell, Richard Kingscote and John Egan, were called to give evidence to the Stewards, along with two valets, the clerk of the scales, the racecourse medical offer and the weighing room security guard.
The enquiry, which was ongoing between races throughout the afternoon, concluded with a 21-day ban for Da Silva.
In a statement, the British Horseracing Authority said: “The decision was made to suspend Raul da Silva for violent conduct based on the evidence he struck Jim Crowley in the face, causing an injury which required medical attention. The stewards also stated that they – or the BHA’s head office – reserve the right to revisit the incident should more evidence become available at a later date.”
Crowley, who maintains his silence on the matter for legal reasons, is the retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum.
Champion jockey in 2016, Crowley will be in action at Brighton this afternoon. He has partnered 31 winners from 183 rides this year in Britain, his latest victory coming in the Listed Achilles Stakes on Muthmir, for his guvnor, at Haydock on Saturday.
Among the rides he has to look forward to at Royal Ascot is Sheikh Hamdan’s King’s Stand favourite Battaash.
Da Silva, whose ban begins on June 24, will be in action at Windsor this evening, bidding to add to his five winners from 62 mounts in Britain.
Monday’s selections:
Brighton: 2.00 Claudine, 2.30 More Than Likely, 3.00 Beloved Knight, 3.30 Oasis Fantasy, 4.00 Big Lachie, 4.30 New Rich, 5.00 Watch Tan
Worcester: 2.15 League Of His Own, 2.45 Our Reward, 3.15 Robin The Raven, 3.45 Eyehaveagoodidea, 4.15 Burrows Lane, 4.45 Dory, 4.45 Eaton Miller
Windsor: 5.50 Awesome, 6.20 Dunkerron, 6.50 Rose Hip, 7.20 Another Eclipse, 7.50 Hot Off The Press, 8.20 Garrick, 8.50 Kabba Stone
Pontefract: 6.40 Essenza, 7.10 Becky The Thatcher, 7.40 Prestbury Park, 8.10 Contango, 8.40 Major Crispies, 9.10 Foxtrot Knight
