Melbourne Cup jockey Michael Walker says he has been inundated with abuse after copping a fine for breaching Australian racing's whip rules in Tuesday's race.
Walker was found to have used the whip seven times more than is allowed while riding Prince of Arran at Flemington.
Prince of Arran crossed the line in third but was later promoted to second after Frankie Dettori's Master of Reality was relegated from second place after a protest.
Walker was hit with a $10,000 fine and suspended for seven meetings for excessive use of the whip.
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It is one of the biggest punishments ever handed out to a jockey in Melbourne Cup history.
But the consequences didn't end there for Walker, who was also sanctioned after last year's race.
Speaking on Radio Sport National on Wednesday, Walker revealed the extent of the abuse that had been directed his way for the incident.
"I get home and the abuse I’ve copped from people that don’t even know me. It took its toll on me a little bit overnight," he said.
"I can only apologise, and I will do my best to not let it happen (again). I can only apologise for bringing racing into the spotlight when she would really focus on the tremendous training performance by Danny O’Brien and wonderful ride by Craig Williams."
Jockeys aren't allowed to whip a horse more than five times before the 100m post.
Melbourne Cup jockeys were all warned on race day about overuse of their whips.
Elsewhere, Rostropovich is expected to make a full recovery after fracturing its pelvis during the race.
Rostropovich finished a distant last after jockey Dwayne Dunn eased it down the straight, later saying the horse didn't feel right.
The latest updates out of Melbourne suggest Rostropovich will spend eight months out of racing and is expected to make a full recovery.
