The British Horseracing Authority has issued its findings on the controversial ‘Sandown seven’ case The British Horseracing Authority said on Monday that it will “work with the Professional Jockeys Association and racecourses” to discuss stop-race procedures after its independent disciplinary panel published the reasons for its finding that seven riders who continued racing when the London National at Sandown Park was declared void earlier this month did so because they did not see the yellow warning flag telling them to stop riding.The seven jockeys, including leading riders Daryl Jacob, Harry Skelton, Jamie Moore and Adam Wedge, were initially banned for 10 days for continuing to the finish past the stricken chaser Houblon Des Obeaux, who had collapsed with a heart...
The selection was only seventh in the Greatwood Hurdle last month but Nicky Henderson’s runners have been improving for a run“Improved for a run” has been a common theme for Nicky Henderson’s winners in the last month or so and the phrase may be heard again after Countister (3.35) lines up in the Betfair Exchange Trophy, the valuable handicap hurdle that closes Ascot’s Christmas card. She was only seventh in the Greatwood last month but two places in front of her was her stablemate Dame De Compagnie, who improved by about a stone to score last weekend.Countister, who also carries the colours of JP McManus, put up a remarkable effort to be third in the County Hurdle in March, her...
The Professional Jockeys Association warned in 2017 that stop-race procedures were inadequate but no action was takenIf there is one lesson for racing’s ruling body to learn from its defeat at the hands of the Sandown Seven on Tuesday, it is the importance of taking seriously any concerns expressed by the Professional Jockeys Association. This is a lesson that might have been learned three years ago, when the “perceptions of bias” stramash ended up costing the BHA £425,000 in cold, hard cash, as well as a portion of its reputation for competence, more than a year after the PJA had warned of exactly the chicken that came home to roost.It can be argued that something similar has happened over stop-race...
A dual winner at the Festival, Don Poli has Cheltenham hopes once more after popular success at Alnwick point to pointAs the old saying goes, winning the Derby makes you rich, winning the Grand National makes you famous. Winning a point to point just makes you happy, but what satisfaction there must be for the trainer who, on Sunday, became the first to get Don Poli to win a race since December 2015.The wizard in question is Nick Pearce, 36, whose day job is as one of three head lads working at Dan Skelton’s Warwickshire winner factory. When Don Poli arrived at Skelton’s in the summer, Dan sent him a short way down the road to a yard where Pearce,...
A report on diversity in horse racing says the sport has much to do before it can claim to reflect modern British societyEquality of opportunity for female jockeys is still a century away, according to a report published on Sunday. The Diversity In Racing Steering Group, set up by the sport’s ruling body, used its annual update to urge racing people to embrace change and noted with impressive understatement that, to spectators, “some areas of the sport could be seen as out of kilter with modern British society, from the composition of the sport’s leadership and the opportunities afforded to participants”. Related: Altior set to miss King George on Boxing Day after disappointing gallop Plumpton 12.10 Diablo De Rouhet 12.40...