The British Horseracing Authority has suspended the horse Hillsin from running in any race for 40 days after it received a controversial ride from jockey Dylan Kitts on Wednesday at Worcester. The matter was referred to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further review.
According to a stewards' report of the incident, “the gelding traveled strongly down the home straight, without appearing to ever be asked for its finishing effort and finished third of eleven runners, beaten 1¼ lengths.”
A veterinary official reported that two post-race examinations of Hillsin failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Interviews were conducted with jockey Kitts and Hillsin's trainer, Chris Honour.
“The rider stated his instructions were to drop Hillsin out early, keep a good hold of the horse's head and take his time, before mounting a late challenge,” the stewards' report explains. “Kitts explained that the gelding settled well and found a nice jumping rhythm, and he had been able to make ground easily mid-race when the pace steadied up, however Hillsin made a respiratory noise towards the end of the back straight, which continued on several more occasions throughout the race, and the gelding had also hung badly right-handed, both facts he had reported at scales and which restricted his ability to be more vigorous in the home straight.”
The report continues: “The trainer confirmed the instructions and that Hillsin had been ridden in accordance with them, however whilst acknowledging the gelding had hung-right handed, he did express concerns over the manner in which Hillsin was ridden specifically from jumping the last hurdle. Honour also reiterated that he had emphasized to the rider that Hillsin needed to be held together for as long as possible based on his analysis of the gelding's run at Exeter two starts back, where he didn't get home for a different yard.”
In a subsequent interview on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Honour shared his frustrations with the incident.
“I would never tell someone not to win, it's not fair to ask someone not to win – at the end of the day, lads go out there with their neck on the line,” Honour said. “I don't want people to think bad or ill of us because it's not us and it's not what we do. But I cannot dispute it looks awful.
“I don't want to be dropping the jockey in trouble … but I told him not to let go of his head and he's gone to an extreme,” Honour added. “In my mind, if he was to look back this morning I'm sure he would be disappointed with the ride he has given it.”
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Dylan Kitts' ride on Hillsin in the last at Worcester today has been referred to the BHA Head Office and the horse suspended from running for 40 days… pic.twitter.com/9uvuhMRLVy
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 5, 2023
The post ‘I Would Never Tell Someone Not To Win’: Horse Suspended 40 Days, Jockey Referred To BHA After Controversial Ride appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
