WILLIE CARSON succeeded in his appeal to the Irish Turf Club yesterday against the five day ban he received for wearing an unapproved helmet at the Curragh last Saturday.
The decision overturned the suspension given by the stewards at the track, leaving Carson free to resume race riding next Tuesday when a current ban given by Lingfield stewards over his riding of Kamari expires.
Carson was suspended by the officials after winning the Irish 1000 Guineas on Matiya.
After originally indicating no appeal would be lodged, Carson changed his mind and appeared before the three man committee of Turf Club senior steward Michael Osborne, Professor Michael MacCormac and Frank O'Reilly.
Carson was flanked by his Naas based solicitor Andryw Coonan and Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum owner of Matiya, when he arrived for the hearing.
Also present was the Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley, who reported Carson for wearing the unapproved helmet. He spotted the old fashioned headgear when Carson placed it on the weighing room table as he weighed in.
The decision to overturn the ban now leaves Carson free to ride Bint Salsabil in the Oaks at Epsom next Friday.
As he left the hearing Carson said: "The stewards have been very kind to me. I wore the wrong helmet by mistake, it was not deliberate that the wrong one was packed in my bag. I was worrying about other things on the day."
