Legendary jockey hit with 'pathetic fine' after winning his final race

12/18/2023 Horse Racing

Legendary jockey is hit with ‘pathetic fine’ for bizarre reason after winning his final race as fans hit out at the ‘fun police’

  • Damien Oliver was fined after his big farewell victory 
  • Oliver roade Munhamek to a huge win in Ascot, Perth 
  • But he was fined for his celebration when crossing the line 

An Australian horseracing legend copped a ‘pathetic’ fine after winning the final race of his extraordinary career.

Punters have blasted the ‘fun police’ after Damien Oliver was handed a fine for his celebration after riding Munhamek to victory in Ascot, Perth over the weekend.

Oliver bowed out in the best way possible after finishing his career with three wins, but i was celebration aboard Munhamek that piqued the stewards’ interest in Western Australia.

He was deemed to have ‘made a celebratory gesture prior to passing the winning post’, an offence that has seen him fined $500 (£265).

Video footage showed the veteran jockey standing oit of his saddle and punching the air before crossing the line.

Damien Oliver has been fined for his celebration after winning his final career race

The champion jockey says he couldn’t think of a better way to finish his career, but he was fined for celebrating too early

‘Dreams do come true. That was unbelievable,’ he said after the win.

Oliver is estimated to have won £133million in prize money during his illustrious career, so the fine is unlikely to have a huge impact on his bank balance. 

‘It was death or glory at the top of the straight.

‘I had a bit of confidence in this horse, he could take the gaps when they come.

‘It’s a great win, an unbelievable feeling. I couldn’t think of a better way to finish it off.’

Oliver was denied a record-equalling fourth Melbourne Cup win when he rode Alenquer in last month’s famous 3200m race at Flemington.

He conceded it had been a ‘long farewell’, but took the spotlight for the sake of promoting the sport.

‘All this attention is not really my area, but I understand it,’ Oliver said.

‘It’s been overwhelming, but the crowd here at Ascot, what a wonderful reception.

‘I think it’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen here – the applause and the roar for those last three winners, I’ll never forget it.’

Fans took to social media to blast the ‘pathetic’ decision. 

One said: ‘What a pathetic display from the Ascot stewards. Talk about spoiling a celebration.’ 

‘The Ascot stewards clearly didn’t read the room,’ another fan said.  

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