A HUGE change to racing’s rules mean a horse no longer has to actually run to win a race.
BHA bosses have taken a fresh look at the longstanding “walk over” rule after Yealand’s “victory” at Haydock earlier this month.
Jockey Sean Quinlan punched the air ironically as the Jennie Candlish-trained runner trotted over the line after two other rivals were withdrawn.
Under the old conditions, Yealand still had to actually canter past the winning post for the race result to stand.
That meant Quinlan only had to guide the horse a few yards down the track to claim the £8,000 prize.
But now, if a horse is the only one remaining in a race, they will automatically be declared the winner without the need to take to the track.
A BHA statement issued on Monday said: “In the rare event of a walk over, the remaining horse in the race will no longer need to be ridden across the finish line to be declared the winner.
“This change is designed to reduce the overall impact of a walk over and remove the additional requirements placed on participants.”
Dan Skelton was fuming at Exeter earlier this season when he was forced to withdraw one of his horses and fellow trainer Sue Gardner pulled hers from a race.
That meant Paul Nicholls’ Captain Teague was the benefit of a walk over, winning £40,00 for merely trotting past the post.
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Punters have lashed out at walk overs in the past.
In the event of a walk over, their stake is returned even though they may have, officially, backed the winner of the “race”.
Some of the comments after Quinlan’s ride on Yealand called the situation “dismal” and “embarrassing”.
And the jockey himself is glad the rule has changed.
He told the Racing Post: “There’s no point in a horse going out there if he’s the only one and things should just be kept as simple as possible
“It saves time, fuss and stops everyone complaining. And if it means a horse doesn’t have to travel to the races just to walkover, that’s a good thing.
“The same goes for a rider who has just that one ride on the day.”
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