No justice for Galway jockeys as rules need tweaking
There was racing in Cork that afternoon and plenty of us in the press-room watched as the 'drama'' unfolded.
The following morning I got a phone call from one of ten jockeys involved, Ruby Walsh. He asked if I'd seen the race and, if I had, what did I think? I told him I agreed with the Galway stewards' decision to fine all of them €200. He rang seeking a straight answer and got one.
A week ago the ten appealed the decision and not only did the Turf Club's appeals body confirm the Galway verdict, but also ordered the jockeys to forfeit their deposits of €380 each.
I have since changed my mind about the whole thing and I'll tell you why. Sport, horseracing, GAA, soccer, rugby, whatever, can only be played and governed within a strict set of rules.
They are simply fundamental to all sport and everyone, participants and administrators alike, have to play and behave according to those rules. What the jockeys did at Galway didn't look good, it was farcical and quite unedifying. As long as there was a rule which clearly covered such behaviour, then here's one who would have no hesitation fining those involved. At the time, I felt €200 was just about right.
But I have subsequently done a complete about-turn, on the basis the jockeys broke no rule whatsoever. The fines were confirmed and the deposits forfeited because the appeals body found that the jockeys were guilty of “conduct and behaviour prejudicial to the good reputation of horseracing.”
You have got to say that's absolute rubbish. The reluctance of all of them to make the running was in no way prejudicial to the good reputation of racing.
This particular rule seems to be all encompassing. There is no direct relationship between it and the 'crime' committed by the jockeys and is a bit like being convicted of drunken driving because you were found asleep and piddled out of your brains next to your car. The stewards need to bring in a specific rule covering such behaviour in the future. If one existed for the Galway farce the jockeys, one suspects, would never have appealed in the first place.
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EVER watch a race and come away convinced you had just seen a number of future winners?
That novice chase, which finally landed in Royal Heritage's lap, at Limerick on Sunday is very much a case in point.
Two horses who fell, Mounthenry and Knight Legend, and the remote fifth, Kings Advocate, have to be top of the list.
Mounthenry was a smashing novice hurdler last season, producing a series of decent efforts, despite never being the most fluent of jumpers.
Horses like that are often brilliant over fences and he could be another. He jumped superbly at Limerick, until departing at the third last when seemingly still full of running.
He didn't, however, make a mistake at the obstacle, he jumped it with loads to spare, but just crumbled on landing.
Knight Legend was certain to win rising to the second last, but made his only error and paid the ultimate penalty.
Kings Advocate, making his debut over fences, may have only finished a remote fifth, but is likely to come on plenty for his initial education.
Not too many, you'd imagine, were convinced by Justified's display at Limerick, his tendency to jump away to the left remains a worry, in beating Tumbling Dice by seven lengths.
But it was interesting to note the comments of the horse's trainer, Dusty Sheehy, afterwards, relating that Tony McCoy felt two miles and a furlong is now well short of Justified's best.
McCoy told Sheehy, over such a trip, he has to force the seven-year-old to jump. The reasoning is, over say three miles, Justified will be able to do things in his own time and we will see a far better horse. Who are we to argue with McCoy?
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CORK on Sunday has attracted some really eye-catching entries and has the makings of a smashing day's racing.
On an all National Hunt programme, five of the seven contests are non-handicaps and it certainly does look an ideal mix.
Hopefully, plenty of the potentially high-class horses will remain in tomorrow morning. Putting it bluntly, it is the type of card to which this excellent track should always aspire. Get off the couch come Sunday, it should be well worth the effort.
