Three jockeys banned as race descends into chaos due to confusion over a flag

Daisy Warden, Tommie O’Brien and Harry O’Dwyer were given seven days by the BHA stewards for incorrectly pulling up their horses when they spotted the black and white chequered flag

Three amateur jockeys were banned for seven days after a race at Plumpton descended into chaos.

Daisy Warden, Tommie O’Brien and Harry O’Dwyer thought they had to pull up their horses as a flag was being waved. But it was black and white chequered in colour and to alert them – along with a whistle – to go around hurdles that were taken out due to the low sun in East Sussex.

Eventual winner Clear Storm was one of only five horses to continue and the well-fancied Washington Singer unseated Gina Andrews not long after. A stewards enquiry was called at the conclusion of the 2m4½f event, named the BPL Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

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Some frustrated punters called for the race to be voided, but the result did stand, with Clear Storm returning at odds of 9-2.

“I didn’t know if I was meant to pull up or not,” said jockey Adam Ryan, booked to ride by trainer Neil Mulholland. “But I saw on the big screen that the race was still on.”

The ‘stop trace’ flag, displayed above the weighing room scales at the track, is orange and yellow. Riders were shown recordings of the incident by the on-course BHA representatives.

And Warden who was aboard Hilltown, Tommie O’Brien on Tropical Speed and Sain Et Sauf’s rider Harry O’Dwyer were suspended.

Chief steward Steve Drowne said on Sky Sports Racing: “They were bypassing the three hurdles in the straight because of the low sun, so the whistles were being blown and the flags were being waved and there were four jockeys who pulled up by mistake thinking it was a false start.

“While the race was slowing, Mr (James) King’s saddle went up the neck so he was found not guilty, he had to pull up because the saddle had gone, his horse (Dreamweaver) was unrideable.

“The others have got seven days for mistaking the chequered flag.”