Jockey explains shocking horse punch

The apprentice jockey suspended after punching a horse at a South Australian race meeting has described his actions as a "brain fade".

Dylan Caboche was caught on camera hitting his mount She's Reneldasgirl ahead of Race 2 at Port Lincoln on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old explained his actions on Thursday.

"I'm disappointed and gutted in myself," Caboche told Channel 7.

"Striking a horse is obviously not the right way to go about things.

"It was a brain fade and it shouldn't have happened."

'RACEDAY TREATMENT': Doping investigation rocks racing industry

Thoroughbred Racing SA conducted an immediate inquiry and suspended Caboche for two weeks for misconduct.

"Dylan Caboche was suspended under rule AR175(q) (misconduct) for striking his mount prior to loading. Suspended from midnight 17/11/17 to 1/12/17," it reads.

Caboche will miss the next two meetings for his actions. Image: Getty

However members of the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) have demanded a heavier ban, saying the penalty is “grossly inadequate”.

“You don’t get to punch a horse and get away with it," CPR spokesman Ward Young said.

"If jockeys can’t control their tempers, they don’t deserve to be on the racetrack. If this is what we see on race day, we can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes.

“Ask any punter, racegoer, or even diehard racing enthusiast — ‘is a two-week suspension or $500 fine acceptable for punching a racehorse?'"

Furious punters have also flocked to social media to slam the lenient punishment, with many calling for a life ban.