Dan Skelton says "stop-race" procedure must change after seven jockeys banned

Dan Skelton believes racing’s “Stop Race” procedure is antequated and said on Saturday evening that it needs instant alteration after seven jockeys received ten-day bans at Sandown.

A tragic and dramatic conclusion to racing at the Esher track on Saturday saw the concluding Betfair London National declared a void race and seven jockeys, including the trainer's brother, Harry, facing the prospect of missing the busy and lucrative Christmas programme.

A field of 14 runners went to post for the three-mile-five-furlong handicap chase and the stands fell silent when Houblon Des Obeaux sadly suffered a fatal injury on the bend after jumping the Pond fence for the first time.

It was immediately clear the 12-year-old, trained by Venetia Williams, had suffered a catastrophic injury and green screens were placed around him while he received veterinary treatment. It was later revealed he had suffered a heart attack.

The rest of the runners raced on up the home straight and headed out for the second circuit.

Approaching the Pond fence for a second time, a member of the ground staff displayed a yellow flag, which is shown to indicate to riders that there is a serious incident ahead and that jockeys must stop riding and the race declared void.

But rather than pulling up, horses bypassed the obstacle and subsequently the stricken Houblon Des Obeaux behind the screens, with jockeys continuing to ride out the finish and negotiating the final two obstacles.

The Neil Mulholland-trained Doing Fine (14-1) passed the post in front in the hands of 7lb claimer Philip Donovan, but a stewards’ inquiry was immediately called and following deliberations the race was declared void.

Donovan, Jamie Moore, Daryl Jacob, Adam Wedge, Stan Sheppard, Harry Skelton, James Davies were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident before being given their punishments for failing to pull up after the ‘stop race’ flag had been deployed.

Chris Rutter, Chief Steward at Sandown, said “The Stop Race flag was just to the left of them…they failed to stop when they should have stopped.

“They said they didn’t [see it] but the film clearly showed the flag was there, and the film also clearly shows that it looks like some of the jockeys have gone to stop, then started again.

“It’s either ten days or nothing, it looks like they’ve seen the flag and they’ve ignored it.”

Dan Skelton had no issue with the race being voided but told Racing TV that the jockeys had not deliberately raced on and added that the single yellow flag waved was inadequate.

He told Racing TV: “First and foremost, thoughts out to Venetia’s team. It was horrible to see. Poor old Houblon Des Obeaux has been a great servant for racing, let alone his connections.”

Turning his focus to the Stop Race procedure, which was observed by the Sandown staff, he said: “If that is what racing thinks is good enough to stop a race in 2019, then they are wrong.

“For the last three years, I have had the most runners under National Hunt code in the UK and I think I qualify for an opinion. Something as simple as stopping a race has to be sorted out.

“They [the jockeys] all know what the yellow flag means. To ignore it is an absolute ban. Why would they ignore it? Those jockeys have said they didn’t see, [that] it wasn’t clear.

“It was completely inadequate for the situation to have one flag. I know that’s the Rules of racing but let’s get real. This is 2019. Every time that yellow flag comes out, or nearly every time, there is bans dished out to jockeys: good jockeys who do their best, try their hardest.

“And now, in this instance, they are going to miss out on ten of the most lucrative and busiest racing period there is. They didn’t ignore it, they are saying they didn’t see it. If they are all saying that as a group then we have a problem.

“It’s not acceptable in 2019. Something has to change. The Stop Racing procedure has to be better.”

The death of Houblon Des Obeaux and the bans tainted what up to then had been a fabulous card, with the feature race, the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, being an early contender for race of the season.

Hugh Nugent, the rider of Houblon Des Obeaux, reported his partner had fallen rounding the final bend on the first circuit.

After viewing a recording of the incident, the stewards found that no other horse or rider was involved and the incident was caused by the much-loved gelding, who was having his 66th race, sustaining an injury.

Williams tweeted on Saturday evening: "So very sad, the news of Houblon Des Obeaux’s heart attack (internal bleed) that occurred instantaneously mid race at Sandown today. We’ve been so grateful and proud of you Houbie for nine magnificent seasons. Heartbreaking for Toby, Snippet, Jerry, Fran & everyone at Aramstone."