- This topic has 75 replies, 27 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 1 week ago by
.
- Posts
I don’t know if Townend would have been fully aware but this is a bad look either way. Especially when people will look at this and ask “You jumped off straight after the finishing line but rode the finish, why?”
It looked to me like he wasn’t moving too badly right after the stumble but he was clearly not right in something like the last 50 yards.
I do have a bit of understanding for Townend. The situation has been caused by him being so far clear. If his chance had gone, I reckon he would have either pulled up or let the horse come home in his own time.
To me he was travelling well up to the last then after the last his manner of running was the complete opposite.
The more I know the less I understand.
Having never sat on a horse a day in my life, I cannont argue the point that Townend made either way and given how many horses he has ridden only other jockeys could answer as to whether he is telling the truth or not but I have also seen and heard jockeys pull horses up with a comment that ‘the horse wasn’t moving right behind’ or ‘something felt off in their action’ so jockeys can clearly tell when all is not well
But regardless of what he may or may not have felt on top of the horse after the incident, it was clear from the outside looking in that the horse wasn’t moving correct behind and that is something that can’t be unseen no matter how you try to argue it.
Split second decision and townend far more qualified than most to make the call.
Its animals, humans and sport, mistakes are going to happen even when you think you are doing whats right at the time. No way their was any intent to cause harm.
Different parties will spin it to their own ends.
Had he pulled up we may still of had the same outcome, who knows.
The more I know the less I understand.
Il Etait Temps, Kopek made similar mistakes, years ago Killultagh Vic when I think Walsh was riding too. Majbourgh aswell made a similar mistake at Cheltenham last year. Townend wouldn’t have known the extent of the issue as the horse kept moving forward so I have a little sympathy with that
RIP Gold DancerGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
That has a put a massive downer on the whole meeting. Don’t think I’ve ever come across any horse being ridden out to the line with a broken back but in a Grade 1 at Aintree with the World’s media watching in. You couldn’t write a worse headline for the sport if you tried.
Paul Townend has practically won everything there is to win in this sport. There is no doubt in my mind he’d have pulled the horse up if he had any reason to believe the horse was hurt.
It looked grim to us as viewers though. It was a terrible error and the horse clearly wasn’t moving right afterwards. Very unpleasant incident but no wrongdoing on behalf of the jockey, in my opinion.
Killultagh Vic was off the track for nearly two years after that ride and never won a chase again.
All of those arguments are perfectly valid but we all know how those who say racing is cruel and should be banned will react to this (pretty much all their Christmases coming at once and its not even in the Grand National) – they shout the loudest and longest and Joe Public will be listening to their biased reporting and believe it to be true.
My worry is what will the BHA now do in their customary knee jerk reaction under the ‘public perception’ banner – I could very well see something like an edict coming down that if a horses makes a similar type of mistake (regardless of what point in the race it happens) that the jockey will immediately pull the horse up or face a massive suspension.
Its a last fence issue as any other fence they would pull up
What do you do have someone a hundred metres away waving a flag if its a huge error? at that point the jockey would have his head down in a driveGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Agree LD. It is possible to put a reasoned argument to put the incident into context but that will not gain any traction on social media or with the press. All it will be reported as is a win at all costs jockey riding and whipping an injured horse. Racing will have to be braced for it.
I’ve been watching racing for nearly seventy years but I’ve never before been pleading with a jockey to pull a horse up in this way before.
No win situation for the jockey. If he had pulled up there would have been an outcry from punters talking through their pockets. Instead the anti racing brigade have fuel for their fire. We have to take Paul Townend at his word, and I don’t believe for a second he would knowingly push a gravely injured horse out to the line.
There is footage on Twitter of the horse from the jump at the last when he hurt himself to when Paul Townend jumped off. It’s a sickening sight to be honest, the poor thing can hardly stand.
I don’t buy that Paul couldn’t feel lameness or the change of action. I’m not a jockey but I’ve ridden horses most of my life and used to own them when I was younger.
I’m afraid he has just done an awful lot of damage to the already tarnished reputation that racing has. Any horse getting injured is bad, but seeing an incident where it looks like the jockey feels the win is more important than the horses welfare is disastrous. And that is exactly how it looked.
This is going to put racing on the front pages for all the worst reasons.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.