i was at newton abbott last night.i was stood at the second last hurdle and here r the facts of the conversation that took place .after the mcmanus horse was injured the fence stewards went to the assistance of the horse .one of the stewards went to the hurdle with the flag.asthe horse had made it some 80yards past the hurdlethe other stewards were sme distance from the man with the flag.they were shouting at the man with the flag to come away from the hurdle and to come nearer the screens to wave the field around the horse.the flag man could not hear this due to the distance and consequently waved the flag.these r the facts i witnessed and i personally could not attribute blame to anyone save to say it may have helped if they had radios.anidst the confusionthe stewards thought there was no need to put arrows in the hurdle as they were trying tocontact the flagman.also a split second call for the jockeys man waving flag but no arrows.
by the time the stricken horse had fallen to the ground and the screens erected i reckon with the course only just over a mile round there cold not have been much more than 70seconds before the field were at the hurdle.
by the time the stricken horse had fallen to the ground and the screens erected i reckon with the course only just over a mile round there cold not have been much more than 70seconds before the field were at the hurdle.
Nice to have a first hand account as so many people think that they could do better until they are faced with the reality of the situation. I still think that Cook should have gone to the outside if he believed that he should not be jumping the hurdle as he was heading towards the flagman and the screens by going inside but he only had a couple of seconds to decide. Void race was the only fair result.
Nice to have a first hand account as so many people think that they could do better until they are faced with the reality of the situation. I still think that Cook should have gone to the outside if he believed that he should not be jumping the hurdl
loper, some jockeys riding a finish with head down could easily have galloped straight through the screens. Mind you they might not have seen a flag either. Fortunately most horses have better eyesight.
loper, some jockeys riding a finish with head down could easily have galloped straight through the screens. Mind you they might not have seen a flag either. Fortunately most horses have better eyesight.
that was the whole point when the incident happened the flag man in front of the hurdle thought the distraugt horse was going to be in the way of the runners but it eventually ended up 80yards away hence he was then to far away from the other hurdle stewards to hear them beckoning him towards the oter side of the hurdle
that was the whole point when the incident happened the flag man in front of the hurdle thought the distraugt horse was going to be in the way of the runners but it eventually ended up 80yards away hence he was then to far away from the other hurdle
BEST - Hurricane Fly WORST - Danny cook farce. Should not be happening
Racing always takes one step forward and then 2 steps back, almost in the same stride.
Best and worse of racing seen as usualBEST - Hurricane FlyWORST - Danny cook farce. Should not be happeningRacing always takes one step forward and then 2 steps back, almost in the same stride.
When someone is on the right side waving a flag it is not illogical for the jockeys to expect that they should go to the left. The guy waving the flag should have been positioned on the same side as the danger imo, ie on the inside of the track therefore the jockeys would have rightly gone to the outside of the hurdle, well away from the screens.
Just another very unfortunate and embarrassing incident for British racing and one that could have been avoided. While the decision to disqualify Gaspara may have been right I have every sympathy for Danny Cook and connections. I don´t believe it would be right for the jockey to get a ban.
When someone is on the right side waving a flag it is not illogical for the jockeys to expect that they should go to the left. The guy waving the flag should have been positioned on the same side as the danger imo, ie on the inside of the track there