Scu: Don’t blame amateur riders
PETER SCUDAMORE says the BHA should look at the conditions of entry for races at the Cheltenham Festival in the equine welfare debate, rather than threaten the participation of amateur jockeys.
Three horses suffered fatal injuries at last week’s meeting, including favourite Sir Erec in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle and Invitation Only in the Gold Cup.
But it was the suspensions handed out to amateur riders, particularly in Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase in which Ballyward suffered a fatal fall, which prompted the fiercest debate. This included severe criticism from 20time champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy on ITV of the decision to suspend Irish amateur Declan Laverty for 10 days for continuing ‘contrary to the horse’s welfare after tired jumping errors at the final two fences’, despite his mount, Jerrysback, finishing third.
Laverty’s appeal will be heard at the BHA’s HQ in London on Thursday, with the result bound to come under intense scrutiny.
Scudamore argues that the BHA is not addressing the correct issues. Only three of the 18 runners in the National Hunt Chase had ever attempted the four-mile distance before.
He said: ‘I’m not defending all the rides by amateur jockeys — some deserved penalties — but the best amateur riders at Cheltenham are not like people who turn up and play in a village or pub football team. I’d argue they are among the best riders of any sort in Europe. The BHA is burying its head in the sand by just blaming the riders. They are being put in impossible positions because they are being asked to ride inexperienced horses over an extreme distance. Of course they’re going to get tired.
‘The BHA needs to look at the quality of horse in the National Hunt Chase or even make it a veterans chase for older, more mature horses who have experience over longer distances. They tweeked the conditions of the National Hunt Chase but haven’t got the solution yet.’