Sir Anthony McCoy hits out over ‘disgraceful’ ban on Cheltenham jockey

Sir Anthony McCoy spoke of his disgust with racing’s ruling body during an ITV broadcast from the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, expressing in vivid terms his unhappiness about bans handed out to jockeys who rode in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday. Stewards punished three jockeys for continuing in the marathon race when, in the stewards’ view, their horses were tired and should have been pulled up, but McCoy noted that one of those jockeys had eventually finished third and insisted he had therefore done nothing wrong.

“I’m embarrassed for the British Horseracing Authority,” said McCoy, the 20-times champion jockey. “Talk about bringing racing into disrepute. The horse that finished third, Jerrysback, he [Declan Lavery] got 10 days for that … I never thought at any stage that he did the wrong thing.

“Are you going to explain to the punters that backed Jerrysback? Or the owner, some poor owner would like to come to Cheltenham and get a horse that can walk into the winner’s enclosure and finish third or fourth and you’re going to take that away from them? It’s actually a disgrace. You get any person with experience of jump racing, whether it be a trainer, an owner or a jockey that will defend that decision … I guarantee you won’t find one senior person that will.”

Jerrysback, owned by McCoy’s longstanding employer JP McManus, was eventually beaten by 48 lengths into third place, which paid £12,000 in prize money. He was not visible on TV replays during the race’s latter stages but stewards evidently took the view that he should have been pulled up before, at least, the final fence.

McCoy spoke for many in arguing that the chance to be placed was a good reason for any jockey to continue and he emphasised that the horse had finished entirely unharmed. Ted Walsh, the trainer, TV pundit and father of Ruby Walsh, said: “If they continue to do this, they will kill National Hunt racing.

“Ninety-nine per cent of riders will know if the horse can’t continue and they’ll pull them up. Only 1% of them [stewards] know what they’re doing. It’s a dangerous game. All those people in the stands know it. If you don’t want to watch it, go and look at the croquet.”

But the BHA pointed out that this was not the first time a jockey had been banned under the same rule, despite finishing placed. Harrison Beswick was suspended for eight days after finishing second in 2017.

“It is the responsibility of jockeys to pull up tired horses,” a BHA spokesman said. “This is absolutely fundamental and the rules are clear that priority must be given to the horse if it would be contrary to the horse’s welfare to continue riding out. This is why the stewarding panel, which comprises two former jump jockeys, imposed the penalties on the riders.”

Damien Skehan, who rode the fourth horse in the National Hunt Chase, is expected to be suspended for the same offence when an inquiry into his riding is belatedly held on Thursday. It is already thought that Lavery may appeal against his ban.

The question of amateur participation at the Festival is likely to be discussed when the BHA meets RSPCA representatives in the next month. The RSPCA’s David Muir said: “We had amateur riders taking part in one of the biggest race meetings in the country. They were told exactly what was expected of them and they didn’t listen. When this meeting’s over, we will try and address that issue with the BHA.”

(THE GUARDIAN)