Frankie Dettori is in hospital with broken ribs after being involved in a car accident. The crash occurred on the outskirts of Newmarket. meanwhile, former Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Graham Bradley has passed away at the age of 65.
Here is today’s racing news round-up for Friday.
Dettori suffers broken ribs in Newmarket car crash
Frankie Dettori suffered injuries in a car crash outside Newmarket on Wednesday. The 55-year-old was rushed to hospital and has suffered multiple broken ribs, but is otherwise unscathed. Two other people involved in the accident on the A1304 are also in hospital. Dettori was due to ride again in England in the St Leger Legends race at Doncaster in September. However, he is now due a period of recovery after the crash. (BBC)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bradley dies at 65
Ex-jockey Graham Bradley has passed away at the age of 65 after a struggle with dementia. The Yorkshireman won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Bregawn in 1983, leading home an historic 1-2-3-4-5 for trainer Michael Dickinson in the race. Bradley rode more than 700 winners across his career in the saddle. As well as the Gold Cup, he also won the 1996 Champion Hurdle, while he was involved in a memorable finish to the 1998 Grand National when second on top-weight Suny Bay. (The Sun)
Ballydoyle have three in Eclipse with Soumillon ban reduced
Aidan O’Brien has declared three runners among a seven-strong field for the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse on Saturday. Causeway was the only runner not declared, as French Derby one-two Constitution River and Hawk Mountain, as well as likely pacemaker Flushing Meadows, will contest the race. Son Donnacha also has a runner in A Boy Named Susie. Meanwhile the home team is headed by lively improvers Gethin and Saddadd. Another potential pacemaker, King’s Gambit, finalises the field. (RTE)
Race tactics will likely be prevalent in the Eclipse, as they were in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Christophe Soumillon’s role in the Royal Ascot race came under scrutiny when Puerto Rico finished last. However, the stewards adjudged that he had ridden to the benefit of the Ryan Moore-ridden Gstaad. Soumillon appealed the decision to a disciplinary panel, with the verdict on Thursday being a reduction of his eight-day ban to one of only five days. (Racing Post)
Christmas racing given shake-up to create four-day spectacular
Horse racing fans already love the post-Christmas schedule of racing. However, the British Horseracing Authority have announced a rehaul of the schedule to create an ITV Racing festival between December 26-29. The King George VI Chase retains its place as the Boxing Day showpiece. The Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase has now been moved to the second day of Kempton’s meeting on the 27th December though. Equally, the Welsh grand National has been pushed back to the 28th December at Chepstow, with the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on the 29th to conclude the bonanza. (Mirror)