Montpellier's suspension reduced

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Constant Montpellier will serve a suspension of 12 calendar days and has been fined $2,500 following an appeal hearing at the Ontario Racing Commission offices this Monday and Tuesday.

Brent Stone, supervisor of Thoroughbred racing for the Ontario Racing Commission, said Montpellier's suspension began Tuesday.

Montpellier originally was suspended for 150 days and fined $5,000 by the stewards following a confrontation with fellow jockey Patrick Husbands here last Nov. 11.

The trouble began in the jockeys' room, where Husbands used his riding helmet as a weapon during a scuffle with Montpellier, and spilled onto the racetrack following the next race when Montpellier allegedly went after Husbands with his mount when the field was galloping out. Montpellier, who suffered a concussion in the jockeys' room incident, did not ride again last season.

His suspension was officially reduced to 60 calendar days following Monday and Tuesday's proceedings but he was credited with 28 days for the time he missed through the balance of the meeting last fall and 20 days are being stayed pending the successful completion of a six-month probationary period.

Husbands, who originally had been suspended for 60 days and fined $5,000, had his fine cut to $2,500 and his suspension reduced to five days and stayed pending the completion of a successful probationary period at his appeal hearing last week.