HORSES CAN ACT up before the start of a race for any number of reasons.
They may be frightened by the crowd, unimpressed with the stalls or they can just be unruly for the sake of it.
Today, after All My Love reared up in the stalls before the start of the 2.55 in Ripon, many TV viewers complained that jockey Graham Gibbons appeared to punch his mount:
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However, after the race, the British Horse Racing Authority released the following statement clearing Gibbons of any wrong-doing:
“The Stewards held an enquiry to consider why Graham Gibbons, the rider of ALL MY LOVE (IRE), had appeared to strike his horse with an open hand while in the stalls.
“Having heard his evidence and viewed the recordings of the incident they accepted his explanation that the filly was being unruly and attempting to rear and turn her head while in the stalls.
Being concerned for the filly’s safety he used an open hand to try and prevent an injury occurring to the filly or himself.”
