'Am I in a riding lesson?' - Beswick fights his corner as appeal is rejected

A disciplinary panel has rejected an appeal against the placings in a handicap chase at Fontwell last month, during which conditional jockey Harrison Beswick came under hostile questioning that led him to ask: “Am I in a riding lesson here?”

The appeal against the decision of the Fontwell stewards not to award Passing Secrets victory in a 2m2f handicap chase when he was beaten a short head by Master Malcolm on January 30 was brought by Tom Gretton, trainer of the beaten horse.

Gretton was represented in the hearing by his wife Laura, a local Conservative Party councillor and a former journalist who now assists her husband, with the appellant arguing that interference on the final dog-leg turn had caused the Lee Edwards-ridden Passing Secrets to lose more ground than the short head he was beaten.

Beswick, a 5lb claiming conditional rider, said that his mount Master Malcolm had lugged out rounding the turn, causing about two horse-widths of interference, but that his horse was idling in front rather than tiring so had more left to give and that he had taken measures to correct the horse at the right time.

During her questioning, Gretton said to Beswick: “In terms of having a good contact with the reins – at this stage of your career, you’re not as experienced as Mr Edwards as you’re still claiming 5lb and you would not have the same level of skill and strength . . .”

Having been cut short by panel chair Brian Barker, who urged Gretton to ask a question rather than make statements, Gretton asked Beswick whether he felt Master Malcolm had been looking to duck out towards the exit to the stables, prompting the rider to reply: “I don’t know. They are animals not robots.”

Under hostile, and what felt at points chaotic questioning, Beswick was asked whether he should have placed more priority in riding a finish or seeking to correct his mount drifting out from the rail.

“Am I in a riding lesson here?” the jockey said. “I like to think that I am capable of multitasking in that I can ride my horse and correct him at the same time. I don’t think we were unbalanced.”

The panel also heard evidence from mathematician Dr Stephen Foster that had been submitted late, with Barker telling Gretton not to argue with him when she stated it had been due to illness rather than simply accepting it had been a late submission.

The appeal was ultimately rejected, although the Grettons had their deposit returned with the panel outlining their case had been “presented clearly and effectively”.

A second separate hearing into whether owner Graham Jones acted in a “violent or improper manner” at Stratford racecourse in August 2019 was adjourned for seven days.

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