Talking Horses: Dangerous riding back on agenda after Free Wind’s win

Rob Havlin’s five-day ban for careless riding, which may be appealed, has brought issue of dangerous riding back into focus

Free Wind overcame interference to win the  Lancashire Oaks at Haydock Park on Saturday. Picture: Healy Racing

On 31 August 2009, Tony Culhane rode a horse called Mazzola in a five-furlong handicap at Newcastle. 

About 10 seconds after the start, he shifted his mount left towards the rail, bumping a horse on his inside which in turn interfered with another against the rail, which fell.