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Reported to have passed away suddenly. Not going to go down well with opponents of the sport, in light of the criticism about the exhausted state he finished the National in.
RIP.Statement by the BHA:
Oh no, that is so desperately sad after things had been looking up.
RIP Celebre D’Allen
This is so sad…. Especially when it leaves a bit of a sour taste with the jockey banned for ten days for not pulling up between the last two fences.
They gave it a try, but still couldn’t save him. It was worth trying it though.
Rest in peace Celebre D’Allen.Given that the horse was a 13 year old (and 125/1 chance), I expect there will now be pressure on the BHA to introduce an age limit.
I know it is easy to say when sat at home but jockeys do really need to pull up when their horses are tired and with no chance of being placed. It may not have made any difference but “jockey persisting on exhausted horse which then dies” is the last headline racing needs.
I am sorry for the horses owners but Nolan needs to reflect on what he should have done when he is on his 10 day holiday.
Words cannot adequately express my feelings right now … I was there watching the race and the aftermath from Lord Sefton – Poor Celebre was down for ages … such a relief that he eventually got up and into the horse ambulance. He did NOT deserve to end his life like this. Nolan was completely in the wrong to continue when his equine partner, who had given him an outstanding ride up to 3 out to be still in contention, went out like a light and should have been pulled up after 2 out certainly and even before it as the others were passing him easily … but instead he pressed on … WHY? what achievement would have finishing on an exhausted horse be? Much respect if he’d PU when he should have … now I am SO angry with him – he actually used his whip – on poor Celebre – how dare he?! I hope he gets what he fully deserves officially – personally I hope his career is finished. Celebre looked wonderful in the paddock before the race and his lass (and stable staff) must be devastated by this.
It’s not going down too well with racing supporters either … (replying to the initial posting)
I totally agree with Cork All Star and Lochinver. The treatment by the jockey was a disgrace. The jockeys concern themselves far too much with completing the course instead of doing the right thing by the horse and pulling them up. Nolan has brought both himself and racing into severe disrepute by being selfish, and worst of all, cost the poor horse his life. It’s not good enough.
I love racing and don’t want to see an end to the National, but there is really nothing more they can do with the course – it’s down to the jockeys to be responsible with their mounts when on course, which Nolan certainly was not.
Absolutely devastated to read this, poor, poor Celebre D’allen 😢😢😢
“I hope he gets what he fully deserves officially”.
He has already received a 10 day suspension. I expect that is all he is going to get from officialdom.
I’m not a jockey, so it is very hard for me to judge the difference between a poorly judged ride and a grossly negligent one. I can imagine that it is quite a fine line though, especially in the heat of the action and where you are having to balance trying to get the best from your mount while looking after them.
For this reason I try not to think too harshly of jockeys who find themselves in situations like Nolan’s, even while I am very upset about the outcome of his ride. I am sure he is well and truly paying the price of it now though in trial by social media, and hope he has some good support around him.
Well no, it’s awful, but I guess at least we can discuss it in a rational sense and look at what lessons need to be taken from it, rather than simply screaming ‘ban all animal sports’ which you know will be the reaction elsewhere.
Either way, a desperately sad outcome, especially after they’d posted video of him saying he was bright. I guess something internal will likely show up in the autopsy to explain it.
I know about the 10 day ban … but I hope this is now reviewed and owners/trainers think very carefully about putting him up in future …
Marlingford … Nolan has ridden enough to know better … IF he can’t actually feel his horse has no more then he could SEE how many horses were passing him easily … this was a blatantly obvious situation of needing to pull a horse up … Celebre had given him a great ride round and he needed to finish his race at or just after the 2nd last … NO EXCUSES … and NO use of the whip (even waving it) …
Marlingford I do wonder if it was a case of him thinking he might be castigated for missing out on a place if he pulled up.
That close to the end, ten places to play for, and he had been right in the vanguard.
He likely had no real idea how many were still coming up behind or how much they had left, and perhaps thought he could nurse him home, until the tank very abruptly ran empty at the last.
I’m guessing he feels pretty awful and would do anything to run it over again.
Lochinver, I’m not disputing that pulling the horse up was the right thing to do. The point is whether we regard Nolan not doing so sooner as a poor decision which sadly had a terrible outcome, or we see him as a wicked and greedy person and wish the end of his whole career.
Where jockeys are operating in such a high speed and high risk environment, I feel that these situations are rarely clear cut, which makes me hesitant to take the latter view.
Totally agree with your comments EnniskeaneFlame. It’s such a sad situation, but the inherent conflicts in racing do not make these situations easy for jockeys.
Personally I think Nolan has got blinded to good sense in the heat of the moment. He should have pulled up. He has made a very bad mistake but I don’t believe it should end his career.
On the issue of places, if riders are feeling pressured to continue on tired horses because there is prize money down to tenth place, maybe that is something to consider changing?
There is also the betting to consider. I don’t believe it was a factor in this case (although plenty of owners like a bet) but one bookmaker was paying out on eighth place each way. Personally I would be happy to see a return to 4 places, quarter of the odds – which is all bookmakers are required to do (and did, until very recently). Extra places might be encouraging some jockeys to persist on tired horses.
And from a practical betting point of view, all these extra each way places must be depressing the prices of horses in the win market.
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