The former alcoholic has turned his life around and the in-form jockey is chasing glory in Saturday’s big race with Spanish CityThere are records that can map the progress of a racing career, and others that can stop one in its tracks. In 2012, Ray Dawson was banned from riding for two years, having acquired the unwanted distinction of becoming the first jockey in Ireland to test positive for a banned substance twice. Nor was that the end of Dawson’s problems in the early part of his career, or even the end of the beginning.“When I got done the second time, that’s when things got really bad for me,” Dawson says. “I didn’t do anything about trying to get better,...
No contrition from Welsh health minister, who stated on Wednesday that a cluster of cases were linked with trip to racesFrustration was vented by senior racing officials on Thursday after a claim by a Welsh government minister, linking last week’s one-off admission of a crowd at Doncaster with an outbreak of Covid in Wales, was proved to be baseless. “There would be bits of my response you probably couldn’t print,” said David Armstrong, chief executive of the Racecourse Association, which has been working hard in recent weeks to persuade local health authorities that the return of crowds can be managed safely. Related: Talking Horses: Warwick racecourse to host fans for jumps season opener Correction statement regarding stories linking a COVID-19...
The gelding, a close second at York on his reappearance. looks a decent price to land the Listed prize at the Esher trackThe Fortune Stakes at Sandown on Wednesday promises to be one of the most interesting and competitive Listed events of the season, for all that there are just seven runners going to post. Bless Him, who is currently rated 105, looks outclassed and while Montatham, the narrow favourite, has plied his trade in handicaps so far, he has looked like a Group horse in the making ever since a win at Newmarket on 6 June.Since that success, Montatham has finished a slightly unfortunate second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot and then first, off 100 and 104,...
A member of the public complained to racing’s ruling body that Phil Kirby’s staff were shown riding without body protectorsThe power of social media lies not only with the tweeter, as one trainer found when photographs posted online by his business were used against him in disciplinary proceedings. Phil Kirby has been fined by the British Horseracing Authority for failing to ensure his staff wear body protectors when riding his racehorses, a problem that came to light only because a member of the public noticed it while looking at the social media output of Kirby’s stable. Related: Talking Horses: 'mothball' risk for Chester if crowds not back in 2021 Galardo who is being prepared for a summer jumps campaign. Ridden...
Popular track would be unable to race next year if doing it without spectators was the only option, says chief executiveAfter an absorbing weekend of top-quality races around Europe, Monday morning brings a sharp reminder that the sport is in the depths of a crisis from which parts of it may not recover. Officials at Chester racecourse have told the Racing Post they would not be able to race next year if the only option was to continue behind closed doors.“If we were told we weren’t having a crowd next year, we wouldn’t be racing behind closed doors at Chester because we couldn’t afford to do it,” the track’s chief executive, Richard Thomas, is quoted as saying. “You wouldn’t see...