Huge racing row breaks out as James Doyle escapes ban but apologises to punters after ‘disgusting’ end to Windsor race
A HUGE racing row blew up when James Doyle escaped a ban but apologised to punters after his ‘laughable’ finish to this Windsor race.
The Wathnan jockey looked to be in command on 5-6 favourite No Retreat in a 1m2f maiden at Windsor on Monday night.
But, according to the official stewards’ report, he ‘appeared to stop riding’ when yards from the finish, allowing Hollie Doyle to win in dramatic circumstances on Brave Call.
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The matter was further complicated by James’s horse, a three-year-old colt, lugging his head left, losing the race in a photo.
Footage of the incident lit up social media with loads of punters slating James for what they thought was a lousy effort in the crucial final few strides.
The flashpoint also came hot on the heels of apprentice jockey Alec Voikhansky getting hit with a 28-day ban for throwing away victory in a similar fashion.
Doyle was accused by punters of ‘getting away with murder’ – while another labelled the finish ‘laughable’.
In fairness the jockey fronted up to Matt Chapman afterwards and, in extraordinary scenes, said sorry to those who saw their money go up in flames.
He said: “I do 100 per cent feel for the punters that will have backed my horse and the connections of him too, but we are dealing with horses.
“They’re live animals and have a mind of their own.
“He’d only run once before and quickened up smartly to go and win his race.
“He did lug into Hollie’s horse, which is when I put my stick down, and then after that he gets a wobble on and spots the winning line.
“He goes right to try and avoid stepping on it, and then started to go left hand down and I was mindful of the turn.
“It’s like he got spooked by the winning line. I’m not vigorous up to the line as I’m trying to stay on the horse – I’m trying to keep the partnership intact as best as I can.
“You can see right on the winning line he judders to a halt. That’s what got us beat tonight.
“When you’ve got a wayward horse underneath you it’s virtually impossible to be in full drive as you’re mindful of coming off.
“These happened in the most crucial strides of the race and people say I should be suspended, but horses aren’t machines.”
The stewards’ report read: “James Doyle, the rider of No Retreat, placed second, had appeared to stop riding shortly before the winning post.
“After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, Doyle’s explanation that No Retreat jinked in the final strides on the run to the line, causing both itself and Doyle to become unbalanced, requiring him to get a hold of the horse’s head, was noted.”
Not everyone was buying the jockey’s explanation, though.
One furious punter said in response to James’s interview: “What a disgusting script of pure fiction.”
While another claimed: “If an apprentice had done this tonight, as we saw recently, would the outcome be a tap on the wrist & a let off? I think not.”
Others were more forgiving, though, with one bettor writing in response to James’s reasoning: “Common sense decision, unfortunate, but as he said, they’re horses.”
Finishes have come under the spotlight in recent weeks, with one jockey being investigated after he abruptly fell off a leading horse.
Furious punters demanded a lifetime ban for the rider – who is awaiting his punishment.
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