Three Victorian jockeys have been suspended for a total of more than eight months after separate post-race incidents at New Year's Day race meetings.

On Monday Racing Victoria stewards hit Ben Smith with a six-month suspension for hitting apprentice Nick Mehmet at Hanging Rock while Sam Hyland and Dale Smith were suspended for five weeks and four weeks respectively for an altercation at Mornington races.

Mehmet, 29, has been unable to ride since the Hanging Rock meeting where Smith attacked him, breaking his nose and cracking his teeth.

Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct for hitting Mehmet in the face with a portion of his arm near the jockeys room after the running of the second race, the Bundaberg Rum Hesket Maiden Plate.

Mehmet rode third placegetter Elite Moxie and Smith finished fifth on Go Nikey.

Evidence was taken from Mehmet, Smith, Hanging Rock Racing Club committeeman Michael Rowland, and RVL barrier attendant Andrew Duff while submissions were considered from Victorian Jockeys Association director Ross Inglis.

Smith was suspended from midnight January 7 until midnight on July 7 and is undecided about lodging an appeal.

It is the third time Mehmet has been involved in unsavoury incidents.

In October 2005 trainer Steven Cunningham was disqualified for nine months and told to undergo anger management after head-butting and pushing Mehmet.

In July last year Daniel Moor was suspended for a week, fined $1,000 also told to undergo anger management for calling Mehmet a "f...ing terrorist".

Hyland and Dale Smith were both charged with misconduct after they were found to have verbally abused and pushed each other in the chest area after the running of the Bundaberg Rum (0-62) Handicap at Mornington.

Stewards took in to account Hyland's guilty plea but deemed that he was the instigator of the incident and suspended him for five weeks from midnight on Monday until midnight on February 9.

Smith was suspended for four weeks from midnight Monday until midnight on February 2.

Smith finished fifth on the Jane Baker-trained She'z Tipsy in the Mornington race while Hyland rode the Peter Snowden-trained Hendane who finished last.

Monday's suspensions come after stewards fined jockey Danny Brereton $2,000 for attempting to strike Dwayne Dunn after the running of the New Gleam Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.