Safety Review After Horse Deaths at Cheltenham Festival

The deaths of five horses in two days at the Cheltenham Festival has promted an investigation by the The British Horseracing Authority (BHA). On the opening three horses were killed Scotsirish, Garde Champetre and Educated Evans, while wednesday saw the death of another two horses, Abergavenny and Featherbed in the Coral Cup

Another horse Wishfull Thinking fell in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, rolling under the rails and into a crowd of phot

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Cheltenham Festival - 1:30 - JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) Preview

The first race of the day is the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) at 1.30pm and will see 20 runner ompeting over 2m 1f for a prize fund of £100000

Arctic Reach
An outsider at 66-1 Artic Reach showed poor form on Flat but has taken well to hurdling, winning 3 of 4 starts in juvenile events. Arrives on the back of a moderate effort in a Southwell jumpers' bumper and up against it in very competetive field at cheltenham.

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Cheltenham Festival: Nicky Henderson stable lad wins £1m

Trainer Nicky Henderson has been in fantastic form at this years Cheltenham Festival, and it seems some of his luck has rubbed of on Conor Murphy one of his stable lads. Conor placed a £50 accumulator bet based on five of the yard`s six winners :- Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig, Bobs Worth, Finians Rainbow and Riverside Theatre at hefty antepost prices in November and netted himself a 1 MILLION pound wind fall.

The bookmaker is believed to be Bet365

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Denman to go team chasing and hunting in retirement

Denman was a legend on the race track, trained by Paul Nicholls had many wins including winning the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup, Denman was retired from racing after sustaining a tendon injury in December, but providing he makes a full recover he will be enjoying his retirement team chasing and hunting with Charlotte Alexander.

"What an honour and a privilege to ride such an amazing horse. I am the luckiest girl alive!" said Charlotte, who has bee

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HBO cans racing drama Luck after horse death

Just two days after suspending filming of the racing drama "Luck" following the death of a third horse in connection with the show, HBO has pulled the plug on the entire production. "It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series 'Luck'," HBO said in a statement.

"Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standar

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Cheltenham Festival Day One Treble

The Cheltenham Festival finally got under way today in an exiting opening day.
Good news for the bookies when our featured treble and popular bet for the opening day was one short as Ruby Walsh on Hurricane Fly could only manage a third place finish in the Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) despite being strong favourite. One of the four Paul Nicholls trained horses Rock on Ruby ran an impressive race and came in at 11-1 with N Fehi

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Cheltenham Festival First Day Preview

The long anticipated Cheltenahm Festival Starts at 1.30pm, the ground for the first day is good, good to soft in places, we are going to take a look at a few of the runners and riders whilst having a go at picking a couple of winners.

The main race on day one is the Stan James Champion Hurdle – and its all about Willie Mullins trained Hurricane Fly who is odds on to win the race after his success last year. and jockey Ruby Walsh feels the eight-

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Three horses killed on first day at Cheltenham Festival

Scotsirish, 11, and Garde Champetre, 13, were both injured during the the 3-mile 7-furlong cross-country handicap chase. Officials said both sustained their injuries when on the flat between fences. Scotsirish fractured a hind cannon bone near a fence described as similar to Aintree's Canal Turn, while Garde Champetre fractured a foreleg. There were 16 runners in the race.

Educated Evans, a seven-year-old, reportedly broke a hind leg at the seco

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Third Horse dies in connection with TV series Luck

Filming of horses in the second series of the HBO racing drama "Luck" has been temporarily suspended following the death of a third thoroughbred in connection with the show. The American Humane Association, which has been monitoring horse welfare on set, said the animal reared up and fell backwards while being walked to a barn.

HBO has agreed to suspend filming of horses pending an inquiry into the circumstances around Tuesday's accident. The as

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Heavy Legs For Bog Warrior At Naas

Flemenstar notched his fourth consecutive win under Andrew Lynch today in the featured race from Naas in the Directors Plate Novice Chase (Grade 3) on At The Races, The race had been billed as a straight shoot out between two previously impressive horses, Flemenstar and Bog Warrior, with Bog Warrior having notched up a convincing victory in the previous meeting between the two on his chasing debut. The race however did not live up to billing as Bog warrio

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Quito Du Tresor to miss the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Friday

Quito Du Tresor, the 25-1 shot for Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Friday, will now miss the race reports trainer Lucinda Russell. Jo Tracey`s eight-year-old who came Fifth in the same Cheltenham Festival race last year, won a competitive handicap at Ascot in November and after finishing fourth at Musselburgh last month was being prepared for Friday's finale. `Quito Du Tresor has met with a setback and will not run in the Grand Annual at the fest

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Quito Du Tresor to miss the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Friday

Horse Website - Quito Du Tresor to miss the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Friday - Quito Du Tresor, the 25-1 shot for Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase on Friday, will now miss the race reports trainer Lucinda Russell. Jo Tracey`s eight-year-old who came Fifth in the same Cheltenham Festival race last year, won a competitive handicap at Ascot in November and after finishing fourth at Musselburgh last month was being prepared for Friday's final

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The British Racing School Make New Appointment

Bill Ratcliffe as Training Operation Manager and Aaron Bateman as a Yard Instructor have been appointed to the British Racing School (BRS). Aaron and Bill both have many years experience in the horse racing industry. Bill held a Trainers License for six years, before working in Singapore. His first winner, a gelding called Bel Cantor, has recently joined the fleet of 72 ex-racehorses at The British Racing School.

Aaron worked for Phillip Hobbs

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The British Racing School Make New Appointment

Horse Website - The British Racing School Make New Appointment - Bill Ratcliffe as Training Operation Manager and Aaron Bateman as a Yard Instructor have been appointed to the British Racing School (BRS). Aaron and Bill both have many years experience in the horse racing industry. Bill held a Trainers License for six years, before working in Singapore. His first winner, a gelding called Bel Cantor, has recently joined the fleet of 72 ex-racehorses at The

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William Carson Handed Four Day Ban

Fan favourite, William Carson was handed a four-day ban yesterday after he weighed in 2lb under after finishing third on Beggers Belief in the 6.30pm at Kempton on Wednesday evening.

Carson weighed out at 9st 7lb but came in at just 9st 5lb after the 1m2f handicap race. He and trainer Eric Wheeler could not explain the loss and so Carson was given the obligatory suspension as he has breached the 1lb weight variance allowed under the rules.

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William Carson Handed Four Day Ban

Horse Website - William Carson Handed Four Day Ban - Fan favourite, William Carson was handed a four-day ban yesterday after he weighed in 2lb under after finishing third on Beggers Belief in the 6.30pm at Kempton on Wednesday evening.

Carson weighed out at 9st 7lb but came in at just 9st 5lb after the 1m2f handicap race. He and trainer Eric Wheeler could not explain the loss and so Carson was given the obligatory suspension as he has breached

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Niche Market Out Of The National

Niche Market Out Of The National. Following on from our look at some of the front runners for this years Grand National, Niche Market, who finished fifth in the 2011 Grand National and one of our tips for horse to watch in the race will sadly now miss the event with a leg injury. Trainer Paul Nicholls, who has never won the National, said the horse would not line up for the contest on Saturday, 14 April. The 11-year-old was rated around at 16-1 chance fo

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BHA Announce New Guidelines on Whip Usage

The British Horseracing Authority have released new guidelines over use of the whip during races, stewards will now be permitted to use their discretion on jockeys in breach rather than giving an automatic ban. The total amount of strikes allowed has not been changed but where the rules are broken ( 7 uses on flat and 8 uses on jumps )the stewards are to decide whether or not to hold an enquiry based on whether the circumstances allow them to disregard the

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BHA Announce New Guidelines on Whip Usage

Horse Website - BHA Announce New Guidelines on Whip Usage - The British Horseracing Authority have released new guidelines over use of the whip during races, stewards will now be permitted to use their discretion on jockeys in breach rather than giving an automatic ban. The total amount of strikes allowed has not been changed but where the rules are broken ( 7 uses on flat and 8 uses on jumps )the stewards are to decide whether or not to hold an enquiry ba

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Grand National Ante-Post Market News

Junior Has been named joint favorite for the national at 10-1 with Ladbrokes despite a narrow defeat in the Williamhill.com Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster. Junior looked in good shape and was conceding almost 2 stone and ony lost narrowly to Ikorodu Road and has now gone to the head of the market alongside Prince De Beauchene. Trainer David Pipe who was at Newbury at the time of the race said of Juniors chances `It's all systems go now for Aintree.` Last

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Whip Regulations to be Relaxed

New changes to controversial whip rules for jockeys and a revised penalty structure have been approved by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

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Whip Regulations to be Relaxed

Horse Website - Whip Regulations to be Relaxed - New changes to controversial whip rules for jockeys and a revised penalty structure have been approved by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Blue Chip Championships

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Giles Cross May Run The National

Trainer Victor Dartnall is tempted to run recent Haydock scorer Giles Cross in the John Smith's Grand National on April 14. After a great effort to finish runner-up in the Coral Welsh National back in December, Giles Cross came out on top at Haydock's Grand National Trial on his last start. As the National weights had already been published prior to that race, Giles Cross will be able to run off his original handicap mark, Dartnell Said `I was very pleas

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JT McNamara Returns For The Cheltenham Festival

Leading Irish amateur jockey JT McNamara is due to return to action this weekend after recovering from a dislocated shoulder. McNamara, who suffered the injury at Stonehall point-to-point on February 10, is a go-to man in all the amateur events at the Cheltenham Festival, and is again in demand this season. "I think I'm riding Drawn N Drank for Enda Bolger in the four-miler (John Oaksey National Hunt Chase), if he gets in," said McNamara. "Enda

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Exeter Racecourse Children`s Day

The closest most children get to meeting their jockey heroes is seeing them on the television, or hurtling past at break neck speed on a racecourse. But Exeter Racecourse's annual children's day, which is sponsored by Finlake Holiday Park, has become a first stop for racing fans and with the chance to meet them face to face and ask them about their lives, it has become renowned as one of the highlights of the Easter holidays.

Children get an ins

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Newbury Racecourse: Greatwood Charity Raceday - Saturday 3rd March 2012

Don't miss out on your opportunity to join in a celebration of the horse with interactive displays and appearances from the world of equestrianism alongside seven thrilling jump races on Saturday 3rd March at Newbury Racecourse! The Racecourse have very kindly offered a FREE TICKETS offer for BEF Member Body Members – simply quote your membership number for any BEF organisation when you book over the phone to claim 2 FREE Premier Enclosure tickets*. Must b

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Thanks giving service, Josh Gifford 1941 - 2012

A SERVICE to celebrate the life of Josh Gifford will take place at Chichester Cathedral on Thursday, March 1, starting at 2pm. Anticipating a large turnout, Gifford's son Nick on Monday finalised details with the authorities at the cathedral that offers seating for up to 700 people.

Everybody who would like to remember my father is welcome to come along to the service," he said.

Gifford, the four-time champion jump jockey and successf

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Ruby Walsh`s joy at get out of jail free card as ban is deferred

Ruby Walsh will ride Zarkandar in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle after he was allowed to defer his suspension. Walsh had lost his appeal against a three-day ban, incurred for careless riding at Cheltenham on 28 January. He was found guilty of interference when partnering Pearl Swan to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial. That meant he was set to miss the event at Newbury this Saturday, but he has now got what he describes as a "get out of jail free card."

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