A HUGE racing row blew up when James Doyle escaped a ban but apologised to punters after his 'laughable' finish to this Windsor race.
The Wathnan jockey looked to be in command on 5-6 favourite No Retreat in a 1m2f maiden at Windsor on Monday night.
But, according to the official stewards' report, he 'appeared to stop riding' when yards from the finish, allowing Hollie Doyle to win in dramatic circumstances on Brave Call.
The matter was further complicated by James's horse, a three-year-old colt, lugging his head left, losing the race in a photo.
Footage of the incident lit up social media with loads of punters slating James for what they thought was a lousy effort in the crucial final few strides.
The flashpoint also came hot on the heels of apprentice jockey Alec Voikhansky getting hit with a 28-day ban for throwing away victory in a similar fashion.
Doyle was accused by punters of 'getting away with murder' - while another labelled the finish 'laughable'.
In fairness the jockey fronted up to Matt Chapman afterwards and, in extraordinary scenes, said sorry to those who saw their money go up in flames.
He said: "I do 100 per cent feel for the punters that will have backed my horse and the connections of him too, but we are dealing with horses.
"They're live animals and have a mind of their own.
"He'd only run once before and quickened up smartly to go and win his race.
"He did lug into Hollie's horse, which is when I put my stick down, and then after that he gets a wobble on and spots the winning line.
"He goes right to try and avoid stepping on it, and then started to go left hand down and I was mindful of the turn.
"It's like he got spooked by the winning line. I'm not vigorous up to the line as I'm trying to stay on the horse – I'm trying to keep the partnership intact as best as I can.
"You can see right on the winning line he judders to a halt. That's what got us beat tonight.
"When you've got a wayward horse underneath you it's virtually impossible to be in full drive as you're mindful of coming off.
"These happened in the most crucial strides of the race and people say I should be suspended, but horses aren't machines."
The stewards' report read: "James Doyle, the rider of No Retreat, placed second, had appeared to stop riding shortly before the winning post.
"After being interviewed and shown recordings of the incident, Doyle’s explanation that No Retreat jinked in the final strides on the run to the line, causing both itself and Doyle to become unbalanced, requiring him to get a hold of the horse’s head, was noted."
The Uproar Over Doyle's Finish
Not everyone was buying the jockey's explanation, though.
One furious punter said in response to James's interview: "What a disgusting script of pure fiction."
Others were more forgiving, though, with one bettor writing in response to James's reasoning: "Common sense decision, unfortunate, but as he said, they're horses."
The Wider Context
Finishes have come under the spotlight in recent weeks, with one jockey being investigated after he abruptly fell off a leading horse.
The Recent Pattern of Incidents
This nonsense needs to stop. Now. In less than three weeks we have had three jockeys who should have won races, but didn't. Well, the final part of the terrible trilogy was a dead-heat. One of the riders got a 28-day ban, another got 18 days and the other somehow got off scot-free.
Doyle's Previous Incident
The easing-down spree started at Bath on the first Friday of the month when Alec Voikhansky surged to the front on Power Of Twins, kicked a couple of lengths clear before deciding to sit motionless for five strides without ever looking left or right. He had his heart broken by Lovestruck Romeo. He got 28 days and deserved every one of them.
Doyle's Explanation
Next up was James Doyle. A terrific chap by all accounts and a superb ambassador for the sport. It turns out he has even more charm and charisma than I ever imagined as he managed to worm his way out of a huge holiday with a convoluted explanation as to why odds-on favourite No Retreat didn't win the 1m2f maiden at Windsor on Monday evening. He should have been off on a 28-day retreat.
The Need for Action
Furious punters demanded a lifetime ban for the rider - who is awaiting his punishment.
This incident highlights a growing problem in horse racing. The sport is built on trust between jockeys, owners, and bettors. When that trust is broken, it can have a devastating impact on the industry. The recent string of incidents, including the one involving James Doyle, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the sport. It's time for racing authorities to take swift and decisive action to restore public confidence. If they don't, the sport risks losing its loyal fanbase and facing a serious financial crisis.
This nonsense needs to stop. Now.
