amateur jockey | Horse Racing Free Tips

Noble Yeats Gives Waley-Cohen Grand National Send Off

Sam Waley-Cohen, who was riding in his final race before retirement, booted home 50-1 shot Noble Yeats (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) to a 2 1/4-length victory in the G3 Randox Grant National. The amateur rider had announced his pending retirement on Thursday. Any Second Now (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) was second after running third in 2021, 20 lengths ahead of Cheltenham winner Delta Work (Fr) (Network {Ger}).

“He ran for me, he couldn't go the early pace and I just tried to find pockets to give him a bit of space to run into,” said Waley-Cohen, who was riding in his father Robert's silks for trainer Emmet Mullins. “I found myself on the inner and was going more forward than I wanted to.

“He loves seeing his fences, so I kept trying to find a spot where he could see them. When I asked him he came, but if I just half-asked him he wasn't confident, so I was trying to sit against him–he likes the bit in his mouth and your legs against him.

“I was just trying to get him in that nice rhythm and as soon as I asked him, he went. I thought I'd gone too early [at the last]. I really didn't want to get there then, but as soon as he picked up I thought 'he's gone, he's got this'.

“Dad has always supported me unwaveringly, we've never had a cross word, it's always been for fun. It's been a love affair. To my wife, long-suffering, they aren't all good days, there are bad days in this sport.

“We came here thinking the sun's out, it's your last ride–go and have a nice spin, no expectations. Just enjoy it. It's a dream. I couldn't believe it.”

He added, “I have to thank so many people. People said he was too young at seven, but when you're on a horse that age you can take chances and it paid off. He jumped neatly and I started to think he was really travelling, I started following Santini and then he just started to go forwards.

“He jumped the last well, but then I felt the other horse come to me and I thought he was going to get me. But when I really asked him he kept finding and galloped all the way to the line.

“I was overwhelmed when I crossed the line, but then you have a responsibility to the horse so I had to keep him walking and get some water on him and make sure he was fine. As a jockey your race isn't run until your horse is safe so that was my main thought–then get weighed in and go and enjoy it!

Robert Waley-Cohen said, “He's the only the amateur to have won the Gold Cup, the King George twice and the Grand National. It's so extraordinary.”

Waley-Cohen was given a nine-day ban and a £400 fine by the stewards for overuse of the whip and in the incorrect place in the finish.

The post Noble Yeats Gives Waley-Cohen Grand National Send Off appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Amateur Jockey Eszter Jeles Succumbs To Injuries Suffered In Istanbul Race

Amateur jockey Eszter Jeles, 21, succumbed after 13 days in the hospital to injuries suffered during a race at Veliefendi Racecourse in Istanbul, Turkey on Sept. 5, reports the Irish Daily Mirror.

Jeles, a native of Hungary, was fell from her mount Toms during the Fegentri Amateur Women's Riders World Championship. She was sent to the hospital, but severe head injuries claimed her life after 13 days of treatment.

The Jockey Club of Turkey released the following statement:

“Hungarian lady rider Eszter Jeles fell from the horse named Toms in Fegentri World Championship Race for Lady Riders on Sunday, Sept. 5 at the Veliefendi Racecourse in Istanbul. Following the accident, she was immediately taken to hospital for treatment. Following her health checks, she underwent an operation on Monday, Sept. 6 and her treatment continued. We are deeply sorry to learn that Eszter Jeles lost her 13-day struggle to survive and lost her life despite all efforts of the medical teams since the first day. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jeles family and her loved ones.

“May God rest her soul in peace.”

James Banned 12 Months; Eight Suspended

Irish amateur jockey Rob James, who was shown climbing aboard and sitting astride a dead horse in an eight-second video that circulated on social media last week, has received a 12-month suspension of his qualified riders license and handlers permit from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, which tweeted the result of its investigation late on Wednesday evening. The last eight months of the ban have been suspended by the IHRB, though terms of the suspension were not immediately disclosed. The statement from the IHRB reads as follows:

“The Referrals Committee, Ms. Justice Leonie Reynolds, Mr. Nick Wachman and Mr. Sean Barry convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on Wednesday, 10th, March 2021 to consider the referral of Mr. Robert James (Rider/Handler) following an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board investigation into a video circulating on social media which first came to the attention of the IHRB on Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021.

“Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee found Mr. James in breach of Rule 272(i) in that he acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horseracing. They imposed a 12-month suspension of his Qualified Riders licence and Handlers Permit with the last eight months suspended.

“The Committee also notes that Mr. James has stated to the Committee that he will not attend a Racemeeting or a Point-to-Point for the four-month period of his suspension.

“The detailed decision read out by Ms. Justice Leonie Reynolds will be published by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday.”

The post James Banned 12 Months; Eight Suspended appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Amateur Jockey Rob James Apologizes For ‘Wholly Inappropriate’ Actions In Viral Video

Amateur jockey Rob James issued an apology via The Irish Field on Tuesday, after a video depicting him astride a dead horse made the rounds on social media.

“I would just like of apologize for my actions which were wholly inappropriate and disrespectful to a lovely 5-year-old mare, who unfortunately suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at exercise earlier that morning, April 30, 2016,” James said. “To try defending my stupidity at the time would add further insult and hurt to the many loyal people that have supported me during my career. I have caused embarrassment to my employers, my family and most importantly the sport I love.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) announced it would investigate the via, stating via Twitter: “We are aware of further social media content circulating and the matter is under investigation.”

The video of James follows the emergence of a picture of trainer Gordon Elliott astride a fallen racehorse, which caused the trainer to be banned the British Horseracing Authority.