Redwood Queen chaos at Wexford only creates suspicion and distrust in the sport - regulators must provide answers quickly: RACING CONFIDENTIAL

Daily Mail​

05-06-2025

The Wexford Claiming Hurdle, run on May 29, was worth €5900 to the winner. It was the kind of race on a midweek afternoon, at a provincial course, that barely warrants a second look.
It attracted six runners, all of whom have seen better days in their careers. Horses are entered in claimers because they are effectively for sale. The weight they carry in the contest is determined by the price they can be bought for afterwards.
This particular running, however, has caused fury on remarkable levels from punters and understandably so. No race in the past seven days has attracted more discussion and no race in the last year has done more to damage perceptions of the sport.
Everything revolves around a mare called Redwood Queen, who is trained by Charles Byrnes and was ridden at Wexford by his son, Philip. She was second favourite behind Beacon Edge, trained by Gordon Elliott. Her price when the market opened was 7/2; those odds drifted out to 13/2 at the off.
Beacon Edge, on all known form, should have won in canter. He might be 11 now but odds of 1/3 indicated this was going to be a procession for the gelding. It was anything but – coming to the final flight, Beacon Edge was booked for second place as Redwood Queen galloped with enthusiasm.
Then came the incident that sparked outrage. Byrnes unseated at the final obstacle without any semblance of a mistake from Redwood Queen – the mare didn't touch a bar of the hurdle, her stride didn't falter but her jockey ended up on the floor and Beacon Edge ran out a fortuitous winner.
'On paper it was a penalty kick but I was very lucky to get the opportunity,' said the successful rider Josh Halford.
Racecourse stewards watched a replay but took no action. The Racing Post's in-running comments reported Byrnes 'became unbalanced at the last' and said the jockey 'will be disappointed to have unshipped.' The race is now being reviewed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB).
Many in the court of social media were quick to make the kind of sweeping judgements that if printed in a media publication, without any evidence, would lead to libel claims. What we can say, with certainty, is that Byrnes's riding, on this occasion, was terrible.
A rider of his experience should not have come out of the saddle with such apparent ease. The more camera angles you see, the more your eyebrows raise and it isn't difficult to understand why so many punched damning verdicts into their phones for the digital world to see.
This situation could have been addressed immediately if the racecourse stewards had acted decisively. Those watching had their fury fuelled by the fact Beacon Edge came in for significant support before the start while Redwood Queen's price could not be given away.
All this creates suspicion, distrust and stewards burying their heads when there was an issue for them to address is hugely detrimental to a sport that has critics in all manner of different places. If those who follow the game religiously start to falter, what happens next?
Charles Byrnes, aware of the pounding his reputation had been taking, broke cover at the start of this week to say: 'There's no-one hurting more than Philip. He was trying to get the mare to go in and pop it. She had the race won but she came up out of his hands and blew him out of the saddle.'
Redwood Queen was claimed by another trainer, Cian Collins, after the race for €6000 and her next assignment will be watched with interest. It just goes to show, though, the damage that can be caused when an information vacuum appears. The IHRB must find answers: quickly.
BHA should send a message to MIA Chair
Charles Allen or – Lord Allen of Kensington, to give him his full title – should have started his role as the new Chair of the British Horseracing Authority on Monday. Instead, late last week, he pulled the rug from under the BHA by informing them he was not yet ready to commence his duties.
Lord Allen wants to hold more meetings with stakeholders to, according to a hastily-published and curtly-worded statement from the BHA, 'continue meeting stakeholders to better inform his vision for the sport.'
Looking on from afar, you would say that wants to see what the land is like to determine whether he can be a success or not. It was a risible decision from the 68-year-old. Horseracing needs someone with authority and bravery to lead the sport forward, not someone seemingly protecting themselves.
If the BHA have it within their power, they should thank Lord Allen for his time and appoint someone who can start with immediate effect, understanding the privilege to which they have been afforded. He has made a dreadful first impression.
Buick eyes a shot at history-making
William Buick wouldn't entertain the prospect of history when we spoke last week but he is aware of its potential at Epsom.
Buick will ride Desert Flower in the Betfred Oaks and Ruling Court in the Betfred Derby, the horses on whom he won the 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas respectively at Newmarket last month. These are the kind of equine athletes that could enliven the summer.
1814 was the first year that it became possible for a jockey to win four Classics by the start of June but, incredibly, nobody has managed the feat. Only nine riders have managed to get three of the four, the last being Kieren Fallon in 1999.
Fallon came within a neck of landing the quartet. Wince had won the 1000 Guineas, Ramruma took the Oaks and Oath won the Derby but Enrique, his mount in the 2000 Guineas, failed a narrow margin to cut down Island Sands at Newmarket.
Can Buick do what proved beyond Steve Cauthen (1985), Willie Carson (1980), Lester Piggott (1970), George Moore (1967), Gordon Richards (1942), Herbert Randall (1902), John Barnham Day (1840) and Frank Buckle (1823)? It adds a level of spice to a fantastic weekend.
You can catch up with Buick's interview here.
Something for the weekend
The Classics take centre stage and there was a feeling, at one stage that Andrew Balding's ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT would be contesting them. It hasn't turned out that way but the three-year-old can still win at Epsom on Saturday in the Group Three Diomed Stakes.