From the Herald Sun:

Whip flies in race ruckus
Adrian Dunn
09jan06

A ROW that came to blows has landed jockey Danny Adam in hot water.

In an extraordinary confrontation after yesterday's Bairnsdale Cup, Adam clashed with apprentice Michael Guthrie, throwing a punch and swinging his whip at the rider.

As the pair rode side by side after the race, it appeared that Adam struck Guthrie on the lower right side of his face with his left hand.

About 25m later, Adam swung his whip towards Guthrie's head.

Slow-motion replays showed the whip apparently striking Guthrie's goggles, which had been pushed up on his skullcap. The force caused the goggles to fall back over Guthrie's eyes.

An angry Guthrie could be seen arguing with Adam as they eased their horses down.

When the jockeys returned to the mounting yard, a Racing Victoria steward followed the pair back into the jockeys' room.

Steward James Williams said there were no further altercations.

Stewards immediately opened an inquiry into the incidents, took evidence from both Adam and Guthrie, and viewed video footage before adjourning the inquiry to a date to be fixed.

Mr Williams said he hoped the inquiry would be resumed later this week or, if not, next week at the latest.

Mr Williams described the incidents as serious.

He said there was no evidence to suggest Guthrie physically contacted Adam during or after the race.

When asked about the incident with the whip, Mr Williams replied: "I can't comment too much on that, but it was pretty obvious that contact was made."

Mr Williams said there were no marks on Guthrie's face and the apprentice wasn't complaining of facial injuries.

To add to the drama, Guthrie, riding the sixth-placed I Do Blue, lodged a protest against Adam, riding Larson, alleging interference on the home turn. Stewards dismissed the protest.

Larson and I Do Blue raced side by side in third and fourth position for much of the race, but before the home turn Guthrie attempted to force his way from the inside of Larson.

The horses bumped three times and soon after I Do Blue lost his running when Larson drifted in.

After the winning post there appeared to be words between Adam and Guthrie before the incident escalated.

Adam is just three months into a comeback after being out of the industry for seven years during which he drove a truck and his weight ballooned to about 75kg.

He has been based at Cranbourne and has enjoyed a solid start to his bid to re-establish himself in the competitive jockey ranks.

Last month he rode a winner at Moonee Valley.

Jockeys who know Adam described the action as totally out of character.

Victoria Jockeys' Association chief executive Des O'Keeffe described Adam as a quiet, hard-working jockey who went about his own business.

"It's totally foreign to his character," Mr O'Keeffe said.