The British Horseracing Authority are investigating an allegation of racism after a televised spat between two jockeys on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
ITV cameras picked up a row between Nico de Boinville, who was riding Act Of Innocence for his boss Nicky Henderson, and Declan Queally, who was on board I’ll Sort That.
TV footage highlighted De Boinville, who started The Festival on Tuesday by winning the opening race on Old Park Star, shouting at Queally.
He appeared to lose his cool, demanding Queally to ‘get back’ and turning his mount to take the spot on the rail that I’ll Sort That was positioned in.
There was a false start before the race eventually got underway – one of several on a frustrating afternoon – but the fallout continued afterwards.
Queally told ITV as he returned to the weighing room that de Boinville’s behaviour was ‘horrible’ but he went a step further when he spoke to The Racing Post.
Nico de Boinville, left, and Declan Queally were seen exchanging words before the first race of the second day of the Cheltenham Festival
Queally claimed after the race that he had been racially abused by De Boinville
De Boinville claimed that Queally needed to ‘look in the mirror’ following his comments
He said: ‘It was competitive down there and I got repeated racial abuse from Nico de Boinville when I was coming in around the corner and then he called me a “f***ing p***k” a couple of times in front of the ITV camera.
‘I just didn’t talk back to him, thankfully I didn’t open my mouth.’
Both de Boinville and Queally were spoken to by Shaun Parker, the BHA’s leading steward.
In a report, the BHA said: ‘An enquiry was held into a complaint received from Mr D. Queally regarding an incident at the start.
‘The Stewards, having heard the initial evidence from Queally and Nico de Boinville, have adjourned the matter to obtain further evidence.’
