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I swear she got her feet up and forward so as not to touch the ground. And didn’t even lose an iron. I hope the mare is alright- that was reminiscent of Killultagh Vic’s sprackle- but what a competitor on top. I laughed when the commentators said “oh Harry will get up the inside at the next fence”. She doesn’t leave the door open for anyone.
Might have been better to pull up to be on the safe side but I suppose I can’t blame her for jumping the last. She’s going to get the winter off anyway I think.
The slow motion, close-up replays had me wincing. Both horses put a lot of weight on their fragile legs. Hopefully both will be none the worse for the experience. Cracking sit from Rachel, though she was quite lucky.
Rachael’s balance on a horse that had hit the fence halfway up was quite amazing. At no point did she look as if she would come out of the saddle.
I do understand it’s difficult with a decent prize at stake and owner’s expectations etc, but I think Ms Blackmore should have pulled her horse up. It really splayed it’s legs and could well have been injured. I thought it all looked very unedifying.
Mike
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I wouldn’t have been too happy if I owned the horse and Rachael pulled it up. She had nothing to race against and just a trot to the line. A good sit and a good decision IMO
I would have agreed if the mistake was after the last. The fact she had to push the horse along after it had stopped and make it clamber over another fence is what makes it look a bit unsatisfactory.
The mare looked OK afterwards but I do not see how Rachel Blackmore could have known that at the time. I realise she had to make a quick decision and the adrenalin was pumping but on balance I agree with the view that it would have been prudent to have pulled up.
Rachel knows and wouldn’t have popped the last if she felt something wrong.
riding so much easier riding against muppet.
- Total Posts 2553
Rachael
Troy, I am not sure Rachael could have known. The reason remounting was banned was because jockeys cannot really tell if a horse is injured.
It was a highly unusual incident. I cannot recall anything like it before and it is obviously something that could not be covered by the rules. Rachael did nothing wrong as far as the rules are concerned but I still think on balance that she should not have jumped the last. It might have been better if she had fallen out of the side door and then there would have been nothing to discuss!
And as an aside, what did Skelton think he was doing running after My Drogo?
what did Skelton think he was doing running after My Drogo?
Probably hoped he could grab the bridle before the horse got up a head of speed, and sometimes they stop and are quite happy to be caught, but he quickly realised it was too far away.
Gin on Lime didn’t really clamber, she popped it. You see worse clambering at the end of distance chases on soft (like the NH chase where Jerrysback’s jockey got a ban for finishing 3rd instead of pulling up).
On a different point, couldn’t this race have been moved to the end of the card? Is it really in racing’s interests to have a precious terrestrial TV slot taken up by a two runner novice Chase? I doubt that did much good for the levy.
Steward’s report
Race 3 – 2:20pm
THE SSS SUPER ALLOYS NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE)An enquiry was held to consider the circumstances surrounding Rachael Blackmore, the rider of the winner, GIN ON LIME (FR), continuing in the race when her horse had made a very bad mistake at the penultimate fence. Blackmore and the Veterinary Officer were interviewed, and recordings of the incident were viewed. The Veterinary Officer stated that a post-race examination of GIN ON LIME (FR) failed to reveal any abnormalities. The Stewards noted Blackmore’s explanation that she felt the mare get to its feet quickly without any ill effects and having trotted soundly away, she was satisfied that GIN ON LIME (FR) was fit to continue in the race. She was advised that in similar circumstances she should take more time to assess the welfare of her mount.
I don’t like to see horses continued with after making really bad mistakes, but where do we draw the line?
Rhyme N Reason made a terrible mistake early on before going on to win the Grand National. Should he have been pulled up? Most horses make mistakes during races, how do we decide which mistakes are acceptable to continue racing with?
Jockeys are put in an impossible position when we start saying they should stop riding a horse that hasn’t fallen and isn’t obviously injured.
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