Jockeys cautioned after Grand National start chaos

39 jockeys have been cautioned after the chaos at the start of this year’s Grand National.

4 of them — Aidan Coleman, Sam Twiston-Davies, Tom Scudamore and Tom O’Brien — attended a disciplinary panel hearing in London last week (11 June) on behalf of all 39.

A false start, and the assistant starter being knocked over in the process, led to a steward’s enquiry after racing on 5 April.

On Grand National day, jockeys staged a revolt over the enquiry and refused to re-enter the stewards’ room to hear the outcome.

Only 1 jockey — Brendan Powell — was not charged, as his mount Battle Group planted and refused to race.

Despite being in breach of racing’s Rules, the riders were only cautioned as the panel found that “the primary problems [for the jockeys] were from actions which were not theirs”.

Paul Struthers of the Professional Jockeys Association said: “While pleased that the only sanction handed down was a caution, collectively the jockeys remain very disappointed with the way this has been handled, from start to finish.”

This article was first published in Horse & Hound on 5 June 2014.

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