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The stewards room when shown reminds me of a court of law with guilty parties arguing they have done nothing wrong even though in their head that is exactly what they have done, arguments which can easily sway the stewards.
If there were some kind of observing “jury” present I suspect in Doyle’s situation he would have been found guilty.The more I know the less I understand.
Yeats put it best:
“5 females, most unknown and you’ve got to wonder what their credentials are to be making decisions like this with millions of pounds at stake. They seem to lack experience and at least 2 are ex clerks of the course but not quite sure why ex coc’s will make good stewards.
In any event this lot have proved themselves totally incompetent.”I guess there is nothing more to say.
The Merry Wags of Windsor! I bet that over-enthusiastic medic driver is another wag.
Are men not interested in being stewards anymore? I suppose they miss the old boys club!
From what I can make out Cody Watkins is a man.
The more I know the less I understand.
I don’t see the relevance of the stewards being male, female or anything else anyway. There’s no punching involved so it doesn’t matter.
Seb Sanders believes the stewards got it “horribly wrong”:
Richard, I think that women have a different look at things than men have. Just think about totally different opinions while sitting behind a wheel. Are there any female Stewards in the world of automobile racing? I don’t know and I haven’t seen any female names when watching the odd F1 race.
They might have that softer approach (nothing wrong with that) when assessing a race for instance and allow a jockey to get away with a more tender ride.
If the experienced racing commentator (sounds like Hoiles) in commentating is of the opinion the the jockey has “done enough” then I think the jockey should be forgiven for being under the same impression. You wouldn’t want No Retreat to be ridden any bit more vigorously, not least in terms of whip action.
Ideally stewards should be divided equally male and female and certainly a majority of not more than one now that there are many female jockeys.
Doyle did not need to use the whip. He only had to ride out hands and heels. If he had, he would have won.
Would Kieran Fallon have won the 2014 2000 Guineas on Night of Thunder if he stopped riding in the last 20 yards?
Horse lost the race because the jockey stopped riding before the line, it’s as simple as that.
Why, oh why, they insist on stopping riding as they approach the line when they are leading is beyond me, ride the horse out through the line for the love of God. A couple of strides or twenty yards is going to make no difference at all to the horse in terms of its future so it’s not as if they’d be in any way safeguarding the horse in any way by failing to do so.
He’s a jockey I like but absolutely, 100% deserved a ban for that one.
On the other topic raised – what are the qualifications/criteria for employment as a steward? Are the stewards tested/examined prior to being put on active duty? It’s a professional sport with (literally) millions on the line so I’d like to think there was some rigour there.
Cormack
The BHA page on ‘How do I become a steward?’ states:
‘We have a mixture of paid and unpaid Stewards on our panels on the racecourse. When there is a vacancy paid position an advertisement will be placed on CareersinRacing, BHA Vacancies page and some publications including the Racing Post.’
Not exactly enlightening.
On his second run after a 181 day break!
Some people have no give
5/6 fav on debut too, beaten 1/4 l into third
Winner had his first run after a 108 days break…
No Retreat did exactly the same as on his first start:
Prominent, went second over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, kept on final 110yds, lost second final strides, just held (op 8/11)
Beaten a nose and a neck….
Sophie Candy (Chief Steward)
Georgina Cartwright (Chair)
Cody Watkins (Steward)
Kelly O’Boyle (Assistant Steward)
Josie Brown Smith (Raceday Assistant)“5 females, most unknown and you’ve got to wonder what their credentials are to be making decisions like this with millions of pounds at stake. They seem to lack experience…”
I haven’t heard of any of them, mind you looking through some other stewards’ panels I have only heard of Steve Drowne and Richard Westropp. I don’t really pay attention to the officials’ names except the CoCs of the big courses.
I think assistant steward and raceday assistant are trainee and admin-y type roles so wouldn’t place any blame on their shoulders. One or both of Kelly O’Boyle and Josie Brown Smith have performed these roles at the Cheltenham Festival, Lockinge day, the Oaks+Derby, Royal Ascot and so on.
Of the other three- I can’t see Georgina Cartwright’s name on any big meetings.
Sophie Candy was a steward on the Sandown jumps finale day last year and Royal Ascot week this year. Google tells me she used to ride out for Sir Michael Stoute, studied law and then did a sports law postgrad before becoming CoC at Windsor.
Cody Watkins (male?) was a steward for the Epsom Derby/ Oaks and Eclipse meetings and the Goodwood festival this year, and Boxing Day at Kempton last year. (?s)He will be stewarding on Champions Day this year.
Female names crop up quite regularly-
Joanne Hawkins chaired the stewards on champion hurdle day, Caroline Robinson on Stayers hurdle day, Caroline Tellwright the Grand National card, Lucinda Cavendish the Whitbread, Lockinge Derby and Nassau cards, Sarah Ellison the Oaks/Derby, Falmouth and Eclipse cards, Rosie Pearson ’23 Ebor and St Leger cards
Jane Green was the judge on jumps finale day , the Oaks and the Eclipse card. Emily Jones judged the Hennessy and King George cards and Di Jones the Ebor meeting last year.
Di Jones will be judging the Nunthorpe and Ebor this week, Louise Moore is stewarding all week and Rosie Pearson chairing the stewards on Saturday (chair seems to change every day for most festivals, presumably as they are unpaid so can’t afford to sit there all week for nowt).
I’m sure you could email the BHA to ask about the training and accreditation process.
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