False starts have been a source of frustration for horse racing fans but one chaotic start in the 2014 Grand National sparked a stewards’ enquiry that jockeys refused to attend
A stewards’ enquiry was ordered in the wake of the 2014 Grand National following a chaotic start.
False starts have been a constant discussion in the recent Cheltenham Festival, which has continued into the Aintree Grand National meeting.
But the start of the 2014 Grand National sparked enormous backlash and protests from jockeys after an incident saw assistant starter Simon McNeill knocked down by a horse, but uninjured.
Battle Group, ridden by jockey Brendan Powell, caused the trouble at the start by refusing to line up with the other runners and failed to start the race.
An initial enquiry took place following 25/1 chance Pineau De Re won the famous race, which was attended by most of the 39 riders.
Tony McCoy acted as spokesperson for the jockeys, but all the riders refused to take part when the enquiry was reconvened after the final race.
Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers spoke hours after the end of the race, saying that the jockeys were unhappy over “certain aspects of the conduct of the enquiry”.
“I wasn’t invited to be present for the initial hearing, but I know that certain conversations took place between jockeys and stipes took place afterwards, and the jockeys – to a man – decided that they would not take part when the hearing was due to re-commence,” he said.
“Only one of them would have needed to be present, but they all decided that they would not take part. Timewise, a number of the Irish jockeys were under pressure to catch ferries and flights, but that wasn’t the reason why they refused to go back in.
“They all agreed that they just weren’t happy about the way in which matters were being conducted.”
The 2014 National was won by Pineau de Re, ridden by Leighton Aspell for trainer Richard Newland and owner John Provan.
McCoy came home in third on 10/1 joint favourite Double Seven. Cheltenham Gold Cup and two-time King George VI Chase winner Long Run fell at the ninth fence as a 12/1 shot.