Seven jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival have been handed bans for misconduct following a series of controversial false starts.
The incidents have sparked outrage among punters and racing professionals alike.
Legendary trainer Peter Scudamore has branded the starts “an embarrassment” to the prestigious event.
Jockey Keith Donoghue, who was among those suspended despite winning the Cross Country race on Stumptown, blasted what he called a “lack of communication”.
Seven jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival have been handed bans for misconduct following a series of controversial false starts.
PA
The controversy has overshadowed parts of the Festival, with spectators expressing frustration at the stop-start nature of some races.
Donoghue was one of three Irish riders suspended after the Cross Country race yesterday.
Sean Flanagan, who finished third on Vanillier, and JJ Slevin on Busselton were also banned.
According to stewards, the trio “had not approached the tape at a walk or jig-jog thereby causing a false start”.
Donoghue and Flanagan received one-day bans for their infractions.
Sean Flanagan (pictured right) has also received a ban at Cheltenham
PA
Slevin was handed a more severe two-day suspension as this was his second offence within the past 12 months.
The penalties came despite Donoghue going on to win the race aboard Stumptown.
The Grand Annual race later in the day saw four more jockeys receive suspensions for similar infractions.
Jordan Gainford, Danny McMenamin, Darragh O’Keeffe and Derek Fox were each handed one-day bans for misconduct at the start.
The stewards’ report stated they “had not approached the tape at a walk or jig-jog thereby causing a false start”.
Conor Stone-Walsh, who was also involved in the incident, escaped punishment.
Stewards accepted his explanation that his mount “locked on and despite his best efforts, was difficult to restrain from charging the tape”.
All jockeys and the Starter were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident before the penalties were issued.
Peter Scudamore, who trains alongside partner Lucinda Russell, did not hold back in his criticism of the starting procedures.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “Cheltenham is fantastic but there are problems. The starts are an embarrassment and taking the punters for granted.”
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Arsenal star blasted by fans for ‘utter woke nonsense’ behaviour in PSV Champions League draw
- Jamie Carragher health update after Liverpool legend fell ill while covering Champions League matches for CBS
- ITV forced to cut short interview at Cheltenham Festival after controversial comments live on air
He directly criticised officials’ approach to the issue, saying: “The attitude of the stewards is to sweep the dirt under the carpet and fine the jockey, it is not solving the problem.”
Scudamore also highlighted inconsistencies in the starting process.
“There is no consistency, sometimes the horses are let go moving forward then another time they are stopped,” he wrote.
“It is not possible to stop some of these moving horses.”
The controversy occurred on the same day the sport remembered late jockey Michael O’Sullivan with two poignant winners.
The false start issues have become a significant talking point, threatening to overshadow the racing action at one of the sport’s most prestigious meetings.
Officials have yet to respond to the growing criticism from both racing professionals and spectators.