Irish racing chiefs to review final-flight incident at Wexford
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board will further review Philip Byrnes' final-flight unseat from Redwood Queen at Wexford on Wednesday evening.
Trained by Byrnes' father Charles, Redwood Queen was sent off a 13-2 chance for the opening Wexford Claiming Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.
The duo seemed to have the measure of 1-3 favourite Beacon Edge coming down to the last, but Byrnes appeared to become unbalanced and was unseated jumping the hurdle, allowing Beacon Edge to cruise to a 22-length win.
The incident was examined by the Wexford stewards, with the report stating: "Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the raceday stewards took no further action."
However, the IHRB confirmed on Thursday morning that the incident will be examined again.
An IHRB spokesman said: "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."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The Philip Byrnes Wexford fall looked awful… but some of us must bite our tongues until investigation is complete
PUNTERS were quite rightly stunned and social media went into meltdown after a shock unseat on a horse who drifted like a barge at Wexford on Wednesday. Philip Byrnes Advertisement 3 Redwood Queen looked to have 1-3 market leader Beacon Edge beaten as they approached the last Credit: Racing TV 3 Redwood Queen landed on all fours having seemingly jumped the hurdle well - only for jockey Philip Byrnes to be unseated Credit: Racing TV 3 An investigation has been launched into the incident, which came at the final flight after the horse had drifted markedly in the betting Credit: Racing TV Although on itself merely an extreme example of desperate riding, what angered many about this was that Redwood Queen had drifted in the betting from 7-2 to 13-2. She clearly had the race in the bag when the jockey disappeared out the 'side door'. Byrnes runners, more than most other stables, appear to do best when the money is down. My Saturday NAP Advertisement A Listed winner on comeback from ages off having previously run well in the 2000 Guineas when well fancied - everything, including the strong pace, points to a big run here. Back my tip simply by clicking the odds above. To an outsider, the County Limerick handler runs what the majority would call a 'gambling outfit', for all that racing fans would have no proof of any financial transactions. So when a Byrnes runner drifts like a barge, is clear at the last and then the jockey falls off, naturally many will cry foul play. Only time will tell if that was the case - as the IHRB launch their full investigation. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing But the chances are the case will eventually be dropped. Only money trails could really prove guilt, and with so much punting action now on the Black Market, if anyone was trying to do something untoward they would have to be very thick indeed to leave any trace. I did ask one top class jumps rider what they thought of the fall, and their response was interesting. "Terrible bit of riding really," they said. Advertisement "The horse came out of his hands and he was unbalanced but who knows whether that was enough to fall off?" They added: "Personally I don't think he's that good a stunt rider. I think if they wanted to throw themselves off it would have looked more obvious. "It's really hard to throw yourself off a horse. I just don't think he's that good." Social media is always fascinating on these occasions. People like me – journalists and presenters on TV – tend to come in for a barrage of abuse. Advertisement The general gist is that we 'don't tell it as it is'. As well as that, we should 'have an opinion' and we won't talk out against the 'racing family'. What those on social media are actually saying is that if we don't agree with what they suggest we are on the so-called 'gravy train'. In this case, what those on social media wanted me to say was a jockey had deliberately fallen off a horse who had taken a walk in the betting because connections did not want it to win. Advertisement They would also like me to add the whole game is corrupt. To say the above is fine for most, although technically there would always be a chance of action being taken against them if the authorities found there was no case to answer. But if a TV presenter was to say such things – or someone in writing – they would be in court or before lawyers before you could count to ten. I know this as a fact. Advertisement In my early days of broadcasting I was laid off for a month for two instances which I stand by to today, but which could not be proven. Did one of those mouthing off on social media offer to help pay my bills because I had publicly stood up for the punters? No they did not. Being a keyboard warrior is, naturally, a very different world to broadcasting or writing in a newspaper. Social media has given the people an opening to express themselves like they have never had before. Advertisement But just because the rules of the land appear to matter little online, everyone should remember that for broadcasters and journalists it's a different world. The Wexford incident looked awful. But was it deliberate? I have absolutely no idea. And at this stage none of you reading this have any concrete proof either. Such is life. It's the calm before the Derby and Royal Ascot this weekend, but one race I'm excited to watch is Saturday's Group 3 Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock and live on ITV. Advertisement Old favourites Audience and Kinross are in the line-up, but it's Alyanaabi who interests me. He was once fancied for last year's 2000 Guineas, and eventually finished fifth behind Notable Speech. He carried on at about a mile for Owen Burrows, but his stamina has always been open to question and he returned over course and distance when scoring on May 10. I was impressed then and everything looks right here for another bold run with a strong pace assured. Come on, Alyanaabi! Advertisement FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Irish Times
Charles Byrnes says no one hurting more than son Philip after ‘soft unseat' at Wexford
Trainer Charles Byrnes has said no one is hurting more than his son Philip following the jockey's controversial unseat from Redwood Queen at Wexford on Wednesday. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board is carrying out an investigation into the incident that saw Philip Byrnes unseated from his father's runner at the final flight of a claiming hurdle race. Redwood Queen, who had drifted in betting for the contest, looked to have the race won until unshipping her rider. It allowed the odds-on favourite Beacon Edge to win. The incident has generated significant comment including immediately afterwards on Racing TV where it was described as a 'soft unseat' by one pundit although the race-day stewards at Wexford reviewed the unseating they took no further action. However, the IHRB has subsequently opted to carry out a review of the incident. READ MORE Lots of online discussion following the opening race at Wexford earlier, and our team look back at the incident — Racing TV (@RacingTV) Charles Byrnes defended his son on Friday, arguing it is clear what occurred at the final hurdle. 'It's obvious what happened. He was trying to get the mare to go in and pop it, because obviously she had the race won, and she came up out of his hands and blew him out of the saddle. There's no one hurting more than Philip about it,' the Co Limerick trainer said. He declined to comment further on the matter. Redwood Queen started a 13-2 shot for the race but traded at cramped odds 'in running' before Byrnes (25), was unseated. The IHRB declined to comment on the matter on Friday but a regulatory body spokesperson previously said: 'We note the position of the race-day stewards following their review of the incident. We can now confirm the matter is down for review by an IHRB senior racing official.' Redwood Queen was subsequently claimed out of the race by new trainer Cian Collins for €6,000.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Irish racing needs to professionalise its disciplinary process to reassure public
Rather like a referee or a parking warden, being a voluntary race-day steward is a thankless task. Mostly, all they get out of it is lukewarm tea, a parking space and insults about their eyesight. Sometimes, though, there's a stonewall penalty or a car upside down on a zebra crossing. Like the day with Ta Na La at Wexford recently. Ta Na La, trained by Ted Walsh and racing in the colours of his wife Helen, made her debut over fences in a five-runner novice chase. Ridden by claiming jockey Shane O'Callaghan, Ta Na La travelled strongly throughout the race, jumped well and had only the odds-on favourite Aspire Tower in front of her on the run to the last. From there on, the finish was notable for O'Callaghan's lack of urgency . Aspire Tower ultimately won by more than four lengths, but it was the runner-up's performance that immediately attracted attention. An inquiry into the running and riding of Ta Na La was called. Walsh wasn't in Wexford, so O'Callaghan was accompanied by the trainer's authorised representative. If a trainer isn't at a race meeting, they are required under Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board rules to have an authorised representative present. READ MORE O'Callaghan told the stewards how his instructions, issued directly from the trainer, were to jump off and get his mount settled as she can be very free in her races. He added he was told to get her jumping well, come home the best she could and not to use his whip. The stewards decided the 'non-trier' rules had been broken in that the rider was 'not seen to have attempted to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible place'. They imposed the minimum sanctions. O'Callaghan was suspended for 14 days, Ta Na La suspended for 60 days, and Walsh was fined €3,000. The critical phraseology in the relevant rule is 'not seen'. It's a critical weapon in the official armoury brought in by racing's regulatory body in 2017. A series of high-profile 'non-trier' cases had been successfully appealed, leaving the authorities looking ineffective. Subjective interpretations of what might or might not be 'off' were all but impossible to prove up to legal standards. So, horses now had to be seen to try to obtain their best possible placing. By those standards the Ta Na La case looked straightforward. Walsh's high-profile status as RTÉ's former racing pundit inevitably attracted attention. The Grand National-winning trainer lodged an appeal against his fine and the horse's suspension from racing, which was heard on Monday. O'Callaghan didn't appeal his penalty. Walsh argued he wasn't afforded the opportunity to state his case on the day through his authorised representative and that under no circumstances was O'Callaghan instructed not to obtain from Ta Na La a timely, real and substantial effort to achieve the best possible placing. Walsh said he'd instructed O'Callaghan not to use the whip if Ta Na La was well beaten. But she'd outrun expectations. He blamed the jockey for not making enough effort to show the racing public that he was achieving his best possible position. Jockey Shane O'Callaghan. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho The IHRB statement on Monday's appeal outlines that Walsh's evidence was heard on a 'de-novo' basis, or for the first time. The three-person appeals board outlined how Walsh's authorised representative at Wexford was not asked by the stewards whether they were satisfied with O'Callaghan's ride. After hearing Walsh's evidence they lifted his €3,000 fine. But the horse's suspension stood. The outcome raises some questions, perhaps the most basic of which is why Walsh's authorised representative wasn't asked whether he was satisfied with O'Callaghan's ride? It seems an obvious thing to do in the circumstances. The function of authorised representatives in such circumstances also appears less than clear. What role, if any, are they expected to fill? Walsh said he hadn't spoken to his about the race, particularly, and the man was a friend rather than an employee. So, what was he expected to contribute? On a broader level, does an outcome like this reinforce concerns that the collective aspect to 'non-trier' breaches reflected in penalties for horse, trainer and jockey can work more in theory than in practise? The proper outcome was reached in the end but the untangling of such an apparently straightforward case puts the spotlight back on how such disciplinary processes are carried out on Irish racecourses. The idea is to present a convincing regulatory deterrent that reassures the betting public. This ended up looking worryingly slipshod. It underlines again the outmoded stewarding model in this country. Irish racing is an ultra-professional global business that, we are constantly told, is worth €2.5 billion a year. But it's shop window, the racecourse, is, in effect, policed by well-meaning amateur volunteers, different panels of which are dotted around the place. If the industry really cares about public perception it needs to both professionalise and centralise its regulation. There is no reason for running and riding inquiries to be held in a pressurised race-day environment on the ground. Everything that needs to be seen can be seen on camera at a central location by those paid and trained to interpret what's in front of them and correctly process any action that needs to be taken. The betting and racing public are entitled to no less and won't thank anyone for not getting it. Something for the Weekend The weekend highlight is Sunday's French Derby, where once again much pre-race focus will be on the impact of the draw in an 18-runner field. RIDARI (3.05) is in stall 11, a case of could be worse but could be better too. He had to be snatched up in the final strides of the 'Poulains', which cost him places, and better luck now can see the Aga Khan runner go close. The Cork runner-up SAMBA TRAIN (5.20) could progress enough to go one better in Saturday's Listowel finale.
