Chaos erupted at Plumpton racecourse when a misunderstanding over a flag led to three amateur jockeys being suspended, turning a hurdle race into a farce.
The Incident That Halted the Race
During the BPL Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle on November 17, 2025, a black and white chequered flag was waved, accompanied by whistles. This signal was intended to instruct jockeys to bypass three hurdles in the straight due to the dangerously low sun in East Sussex. However, Daisy Warden, Tommie O’Brien, and Harry O’Dwyer misinterpreted the signal, believing it indicated a false start or a stop to the race. Consequently, they pulled up their horses, bringing them to a halt.
Immediate Consequences and Stewards' Enquiry
The confusion had an immediate and dramatic impact on the 2m4½f event. Of the field, only five horses continued to race. The well-fancied Washington Singer unseated its rider, Gina Andrews, shortly after the incident. The race was eventually won by Clear Storm at odds of 9-2, but the legitimacy of the result was fiercely debated. Some frustrated punters called for the race to be voided, though the result ultimately stood.
A stewards' enquiry was called immediately after the race. Chief steward Steve Drowne explained on Sky Sports Racing that the jockeys had mistaken the chequered flag for a 'stop race' signal, which is actually an orange and yellow flag displayed above the weighing room scales.
The Verdict and Suspensions
After reviewing recordings of the incident, the BHA stewards handed down seven-day suspensions to the three jockeys for incorrectly pulling up. A fourth jockey, James King, was found not guilty as he was forced to pull up because his saddle had slipped, making his horse, Dreamweaver, unrideable. The suspensions for Warden, O'Brien, and O'Dwyer underscore the critical importance of correctly interpreting race-day signals for both safety and competitive integrity.
