Plumpton farce race

[vikingflagship]

Crazy scenes in the amateur riders race today at plumpton
Here is steward’s report

Race 2 – 1:20pm
THE BPL AMATEUR JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 5)

Permission was given for SAIN ET SAUF to wear a red hood to post.

An enquiry was held into the placings in this race after Mr Tommie M. O’Brien, the rider of TROPICAL SPEED (IRE), Mr James King, the rider of DREAMWEAVER (IRE), Miss Daisy Warden, the rider of HILLTOWN (IRE), and Mr Harry O’Dwyer, the rider of SAN ET SAUF, had pulled up shortly after the start had been effected, when the chequered ‘hazard’ flag was being waved and the hazard whistles were being blown to signify the flights in the home straight were being omitted. All four riders, the Starters, the Clerk of the Course, Miss Gina Andrews, the rider of WASHINGTON SINGER, which subsequently fell, Mr P. W. Mullins, the rider of IT’S A BREEZE (IRE), placed third, Mrs Vicki Sollitt, the rider of HIDOR DE BERSY (FR), placed second, Mr Adam Ryan, the rider of the winner, CLEAR STORM, and Miss Elizabeth Feakes, the rider of HIGHWAY HERO, placed fourth, were all interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. Being 7lb claiming amateur riders, Mrs Sollitt, Miss Feakes, Miss Warden were all offered the opportunity to be accompanied in the enquiry but declined. After hearing their evidence, Mr O’Brien, Miss Warden, and Mr O’Dwyer were suspended for 7 days for pulling up after the chequered flag had been waved, which they mistakenly assumed was either a false start or a void race. Mr King’s explanation that he had pulled up because his saddle had slipped up the horse’s neck was accepted. The Stewards were satisfied that the correct procedures had been followed in respect of the deployment of the hazard warning flag, and ordered that the placings remain unaltered.

Vf x

[Cork All Star]

It was a farce but it looks like it was due to it involving amateur jockeys. Some of the less experienced were clearly unaware what the flags and whistles meant. I doubt the same situation would have happened with professional jockeys.

Although I couldn’t help noticing that after the first three hurdles were missed out because the low sun allegedly rendered them dangerous, a horse promptly went and fell at the first hurdle that was meant to be safe to jump!

The early races at Plumpton today were ridiculous, with only four hurdles jumped in two of them.

[Ex RubyLight]

“The early races at Plumpton today were ridiculous, with only four hurdles jumped in two of them.”

2 hurdles 8 omitted according to the RP.

Anyway, Tommie O’Brien has ridden 106 and James King 174 horses in public. They should be familiar with the race-stopping procedures. When you don’t know what to do in an Amateurs’ race always follow Patrick Mullins….. Not sure that’s a great advice though.

[Author]

Posts