A dramatic contest involving veteran jockey Niall McCullagh unfolded at Listowel on Monday. The 57-year-old mistook the winning post in race four aboard Iamimmaculate, handing the initiative to eventual winner Dragon Of Malta.
Meanwhile the deaths of Shiekh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and jockey John Lowe have cast a shadow over today’s racing. Here is the racing news round-up for Tuesday.
Listowel dominated by jockey bans on Monday
Group 1-winning jockey Niall McCullagh has been banned for 14 days after mistaking the winning post at Listowel. The Harvest Festival meeting has entered its third day, with the second day on Monday dominated by jockey bans. McCullagh’s was one, as he and Iamimmaculate missed out on victory in the fourth race on the card. 10lb claimer Rebecca Parsons has also been given a 14-day non-trier ban. (Irish Independent & Racing Post)
Racing mourns Sheikh Ahmed & John Lowe
Shiekh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner of Mtoto, Addeybb and Almaqam among others, has passed away at the age of 76. He was the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai. Both are figures heavily involved in racing, both in Britain and globally. A 10-day mourning period will begin in Dubai to commemorate his passing. His most recent Group 1 victory came earlier this month when Saddadd won the Grosser Preis von Baden. (Thoroughbred Daily News)
There was sad news from the weighing room on Tuesday morning too. John Lowe, formerly a “Cock O’ The North” winner in his riding days, has died aged 75. Lowe emigrated to Australia two years ago after retiring from a role with Roger Varian. He suffered a stroke on Monday and passed away in Perth Hospital. Lowe rode over 2,000 winners in his career across the globe. (Racing Post)
Jockeys’ title race going to wire as Oisin Murphy closes lead
Oisin Murphy has bridged the gap to leader Billy Loughnane in the flat jockeys’ title race. The gap is down to 16 after a 61/1 four-timer for Murphy on Monday compared to just a single winner for the leader. Loughnane had extended his advantage after a successful weekend, but Murphy’s winners show he is not going down without a fight.
Today’s Racing
Listowel’s Harvest Festival moves onto day three on Tuesday, with just one day left until the Kerry National, the feature contest of the week. There are also four meetings on English soil from Beverley, Fontwell and Warwick on turf, and Southwell on the all-weather.
Listowel — seven races · feature: Listowel Stakes (Listed) · going: yielding
Plus Beverley, Fontwell, Southwell & Warwick.
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]