Five jockeys banned for ten days each for ignoring chaotic false start at Windsor

Five apprentice jockeys were each banned for ten days for failing to obey the recall flag on Monday night in a race which was subsequently declared void. 

The Martin Dunne-trained Master Zack became unruly in the stalls before the 5f apprentice handicap and reared up. At the same time, the gates in front of Beaumadier in stall two failed to open correctly, triggering the false start protocol.

Beaumadier was subsequently left trailing far behind the others, while two stalls down Master Zack emerged still blindfolded, then ran loose and crashed through three separate rails. He was reported to be unscathed afterwards.

Both the starter and an official on the track waved their flags to signal the false start, which appeared to go unnoticed by the majority of the jockeys as the other six runners went on to complete the course.

Following a stewards' inquiry, it was found the false start was ignored by Jack Dace, Taryn Langley, Jack Doughty, Alec Voikhansky and Tommie Jakes and they all received ten-day bans.

The two jockeys not banned were Ryan Kavanagh, who was due to ride Master Zack but was unseated in the stalls, and Conor Whiteley, who was visibly trying to pull up Beaumadier after his late start.

Richard Westropp, the chief stipendiary steward, said on Sky Sports Racing: "What happened was the door on stall two [Beaumadier] flapped back as the start was activated, so on the basis of that the starter called a false start. His flag was raised as it should be. The recall man, stood right in the middle of the track, waved his flag and blew his whistle. The procedures were followed to a T.

An official on the track waves his flag after the runners have been let go but the five jockeys in front (with Beaumadier and Conor Whiteley at the rear) appear not to notice himCredit: At The Races

"The jockeys told us in the inquiry that they did not see the recall flag or hear the whistle bar Mr Whiteley on Beaumadier, the horse that activated the false start in the first place." 

Westropp added: "Our guidance is if you have a false start and the race is completed then the race is voided.

"Every jockey is entitled to appeal any suspension that's given to them on the racecourse. There would be a separate hearing heard on a later date. Our footage is very clear with the recall man waving his flag in the middle of the track, hence we felt they should have pulled up."

The Michael Attwater-trained Cabeza De Llave was first past the post as 7-4 favourite under Jakes, who said: "I wouldn't have seen the flag as I was drawn wide. I don't know why it would've been a false start even if the horse reared up. I didn't really think anything of it, but there was a little bit of screaming at the start. I didn't see any flag waving and carried on how I was."

Seb Sanders, who was on punditry duty at the track for Sky Sports Racing, said: "You'd have to think Michael Attwater will feel really frustrated. He has won the race. Unfortunately the jockeys couldn't see the flag.

"It's very unsatisfactory, but we're dealing with humans and horses."

How the incident unfolded

Runners and riders in the stalls for the 5f apprentice handicapCredit: At The Races

Master Zack rears up with his blindfold still on as the stalls open, while Beaumadier's gate malfunctions and momentarily leaves him stuckCredit: At The Races

The blindfolded Master Zack leaves the stalls with his rider Ryan Kavanagh stranded

The starter in the top left corner waves his flag to no avail as the still blindfolded Master Zack runs loose out of the stallsCredit: At The Races

Master Zack crashes through the railsCredit: At The Races

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