An outburst directed at a steward has cost Greg Ryan the chance to ride in the $400,000 Country Championship at Randwick.
Second on the all-time Australian winners’ list only to Robert Thompson, Ryan pleaded guilty to insulting behaviour towards Shane Cullen, chief steward for the Hunter and North West region of NSW.
Ryan admitted to swearing at Cullen and slamming the door as he left a stewards’ inquiry at Scone on February 21.
He was given an eight-week ban on Tuesday with four weeks suspended as long as he is not found guilty of a repeat offence relating to conduct in the next 12 months.
Ryan’s four-week ban starts on March 23 with the Country Championships at Randwick on April 2.
The veteran rider has a healthy lead in the NSW country premiership and is second behind Brenton Avdulla in the state title.