Jockey Owen Lewis has issued a public apology to horse racing punters after a devastating defeat aboard the 1-7 favourite, Fontwell Gordon, at Fontwell Park on Thursday.
The horse, trained by Suzi Best, was expected to canter to victory in the Join Racing TV Now Novices' Hurdle. Instead, in a shocking turn of events, the heavily-backed favourite could only manage a distant third place, leaving bettors reeling.
A Performance That 'Wasn't Good Enough'
Lewis did not shy away from taking responsibility for the disappointing result. In a candid statement, the jockey admitted his performance fell far short of expectations.
'I just want to apologise to everyone who backed the horse today,' Lewis stated. 'That wasn't good enough and I'm sorry. I've watched the replay back and I've got to do better.'
From Certainty to Shock Defeat
The race outcome sent ripples through the racing community. Fontwell Gordon had been considered such a certainty that his starting price was an incredibly short 1-7. The defeat by the winner, Bavington Bob, trained by Chris Honour, was described by onlookers as a major upset.
Lewis confirmed that he would be reviewing the race in detail with the horse's trainer to understand what went wrong. 'I'll speak with Suzi and we'll go through it,' he added, indicating a thorough post-mortem was underway.
For the many punters who placed their faith—and their money—on the favourite, the jockey's swift and honest apology offers little financial consolation but has been noted for its professionalism in the world of sports.
