By Robbie Butler
At the end of May, horse racing circles on these islands were thrown into the spotlight when jockey Philip Byrnes was unseated at the final hurdle during a race in Wexford. For those unfamiliar with racing terminology, “unseated” means to fall off the horse without the horse actually falling. It happens in races and is not terribly unusual.
The reason this incident garnered so much attention was the manner in which the jockey fell off Redwood Queen while leading the Wexford Claiming Hurdle. Pictures of the fall are below and a video and discussion of the fall can be viewed here.
As a side note, the horse is trained by the jockey’s father, Charles, and a claiming race is one in which the horses are all for sale at a specified claiming price until shortly before the race.
At the end of May, horse racing circles on these islands were thrown into the spotlight when jockey Philip Byrnes was unseated at the final hurdle during a race in Wexford. For those unfamiliar with racing terminology, “unseated” means to fall off the horse without the horse actually falling. It happens in races and is not terribly unusual.
The reason this incident garnered so much attention was the manner in which the jockey fell off Redwood Queen while leading the Wexford Claiming Hurdle. Pictures of the fall are below and a video and discussion of the fall can be viewed here.
As a side note, the horse is trained by the jockey’s father, Charles, and a claiming race is one in which the horses are all for sale at a specified claiming price until shortly before the race.
On the day, the steward on course initiated a stewards’ inquiry, and no further action was required. Case closed.
The reaction was quick and harsh. Many shouted “foul play.” Betting markets were exposed. The eventual winner was the 1/3 favourite. Redwood Queen had drifted badly on the morning of the race, ending up with odds as long as 13-2. In running, however, the horse was reported to be as short as 1/7 prior to the final fence unseating.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has decided that action is needed and will now review the incident, saying: “We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident. I can confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official.”
My co-authors and I currently have a working paper that considers such incidents. We find no statistical evidence of non-trying. Judgment of Byrnes’ fall is based on visual cues. Some think it was a deliberate action to fall off, and others do not. Only the jockey knows for sure. In a court of law, one suspects a verdict of “not guilty” would be returned, as enough doubt remains. Whether the IHRB thinks the same remains to be seen.
The reaction was quick and harsh. Many shouted “foul play.” Betting markets were exposed. The eventual winner was the 1/3 favourite. Redwood Queen had drifted badly on the morning of the race, ending up with odds as long as 13-2. In running, however, the horse was reported to be as short as 1/7 prior to the final fence unseating.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has decided that action is needed and will now review the incident, saying: “We note the position of the raceday stewards following their review of the incident. I can confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official.”
My co-authors and I currently have a working paper that considers such incidents. We find no statistical evidence of non-trying. Judgment of Byrnes’ fall is based on visual cues. Some think it was a deliberate action to fall off, and others do not. Only the jockey knows for sure. In a court of law, one suspects a verdict of “not guilty” would be returned, as enough doubt remains. Whether the IHRB thinks the same remains to be seen.
RSS Feed
