Racing's bad boys (and girls) need stricter penalties for unruly behaviour

Within a quarter of an hour last Saturday afternoon were two examples of how too much bad equine behaviour is tolerated under the current rules.

At Cheltenham the only surprise was really how Ceporine ever got close enough to the tapes to even attempt to start, such was the behaviour he exhibited in the preliminaries. When the tapes went up he predictably deposited his rider and so was deemed a runner under the current rules.

At Doncaster, UAE Prince was even-money favourite in the mile and a half handicap, yet when the bell was rung for the jockeys to mount there was no sign of the horse in the paddock. Entering stage left partly on two legs and sometimes on four, the horse was immediately mounted and went straight out to the course, meaning very few on track would have either been aware of his antics or had the chance to see him close up.