@ Calcutta Punter,

Thank you for your viewpoint. Not to dwell on this incident any further, but to say that the jury is still out and will be for the remainder of the monsoon season. There is an element of doubt which cannot be denied which caused a public reaction, which as you felt C Alford would have psychologically expected. I think that sums it up well enough.

Whizzing down tram tracks in the rain sounds like an unwise endeavour, lets hope sound thinking dawns on the risk takers. No one wants another slip up.

Regards.

@ Sree Yantra

I think the best analogy I can think of is that if you are driving a motor bike and it falls on a tram line or skids suddenly, it takes a few seconds to get back on even keel. Furthermore, one must remember the psychological pressure on the rider as he is riding a hot favourite and he knows the reception that awaits him!
As I have mentioned earlier, it was his duty to ride her out to the best of his ability under difficult circumstances.
Anyway, everyone is entitled to their viewpoint.
I won't be writing on this matter any further.
Best Wishes

A sample enquiry:

Mr Steward: Mr jockey what happened can you please explain why you looked back several times in the race and suddenly at about 427.45 mts you stopped riding "Dosti" and broke the rhythm of your horse following which you did not show any purpose to win apart from which you were unbalancing your horse and preventing it from racing to its true potential. Keep in mind that your antics on this favourite has caused the punters to riot. Wink wink nod nod.

Mr Jockey: It was raining and my horse was not wearing duck back shoes. But look at the horses I rode and won, why are you looking at this race in particular? Wink wink nod nod.......

Mr Steward: I am noting it for the record, but may I get your autograph and take a selfie which I will show to my friends. Would you like to share my hanky as something might be stuck in your eye. Wink wink nod nod.

The public withdrew.

Looking back at this incident, it is just the normal standard, it will happen again and again as it has been happpening since long, if you participate in this activity then be aware that you are not going to a temple of truth. It is not the same Calcutta races you may remember, drama and theatre have replaced the sport.

@Calcurra Punter,

I would find it interesting to know your observation on the riding of C Alford after regaining his confidence that his mount Friendship was back in the race after his apparent attempt to stop the horse, albeit in an effort to prevent a presumed fall of the horse and himself.

I can understand a momentary situation where C Alford felt his horse had lost its footing and took measures to save the situation from ending in possible tragedy.

What is more important and noticeable is the unbalancing rhythm C Alford displayed in his riding, which further hampered the fluency of Friendship's strides after he and the horse recovered from the hiccup. If he felt there was something wrong with Friendship's galloping action seconds earlier, how did a "knight" of the whalebone manage to bump the horses back, with his full body weight coming down on the saddle, almost every stride until reaching the finishing post?
Wouldn't any jockey concerned that his horse was not moving fluent fashion moments earlier not cause further risk to the horse by bumping in the saddle and instead balance his body weight evenly on both stirrups. This would not hamper his riding nor cause any impact from his body on the back of his horse.

Your knowledgeable views are solicited.

@Dr Bashaar

Dear Sir,

Alford always look back at bend when on front-runner to check his lead. He never use stick. That is his habit in all races. Second time he look back after slip. It is natural reaction.

Thank you learned sir

@ valid point Doctor

You see, once the filly regained her balance and composure, it was his duty to ride her out to the best of his ability.
Alford rarely uses the whip when his mount is running smoothly as the filly was doing till she slipped. Please compare the wins of Tweedle Dee (hands and heels) and Gryffindor (whip used).

Rgds

Dear all,
After all the supporting/Attacking comments against c.Alford I like to put my views like this. Nearing the 600mts marker ( roughly before the final bend ) jockey looked back- no doubt about it- he was easily leading by about 3 lenghts. OK agreed according to many that there was a problem in the hind legs- horse broke its stride/...fine...thats why to prevent an accident he had to slow down...OK agreed. Still the horse was in front by about 2 or 3 lengths nearing 300mts marker-when the jockey looked back for the 2nd time!!! Did the 2nd time ( while looking back ) the horse had again broken it's stride??? Why did he look back..reason to look back for the 2nd time??? That is also fine. Now comes the daylight robbery.. After surgical strike had overtaken friendship.. the jockey started whipping/urging ( mind it till then he didnt do both).. why did he do so when he was overtaken???( Drama of the highest degree)
Those who have supported c.Alford ( including the sr.stipendary steward ) are you still convinced that c.Alford was honest???
P.S.-I had made an each way bet on surgical strike. But Fact is a fact.
Dr.Bashaar

Only heartless, selfish persons without compassion would rather see a fetlock broken and the young filly put down rather than lose a bet.
It is clear from the recording that the poor animal was trying her best when she skidded for bout 15 metres in the straight.
Why blame the jockey or track. 70 horses ran and only one horse slipped. It was a one-off incident. Punters who cannot take the good with the bad should not indulge in the SPORT.

Dear Kolkata punters,

It is obvious that you do not know anything about the feel a jockey has of the horse under him when it is racing. you're not supposed to complain by throwing a fit just because the horse most of you favoured was found to be going wobbly in front of your very eyes. There was a master jockey astride on which you placed your full faith, did you lose your faith in him just because he chose to save his horse and himself for a later day over your purses? There were other favours which obliged later in the day if you had any spare change left after parting as friends with your patience. Can't we just all agree that these things happen in racing and no one is to blame.

I happen to reject every word above as also the peddlers of this drivel, as it is nothing but spitting in the eyes of the racing fans of Kolkata, who waste their time and money patronising the utter farcical show which is a regular feature here and not much worse than the plummeting standards which have befallen this sport.

It would be fair to mention that Kolkata racing today is but a sum of its parts.

Are you people blind it was daylight robbery in kolkata the worst of its kind.why did alford look back passing 400 meters ?? to see where s john is??Either c alford and the connections are brought to book or shur down horse racing kolkata.

i dont think Alford pulled the horse may be by chance he had felt that something
is wrong and he tried to correct. the stewards took correct decision
regards

After watching the video several times i feel it was not his riding or intention to lose the race. Horse stumbled soon after the turn in the home stretch. Kindly watch the video again before commenting.

PS: I"m not a fan of C Alford

Racing public should not allow the next racing day races to take place.

Public should come to the race course and not allow anyone to enter the course.

This is the only way punters have to make racing a free and fair racing.

Show your might to the wrong doing officials.

C Alford King of Kol till he retires. Why blame him is this the first time he has done this. Why play him at all. What did John or Neeraj do going all the way to Kol.

Yesterday's Calcutta 3rd race Alford the Jacky who pulled the horse without any fear of Punters or stewers. This type of racing continuing India one fine morning Horse racing may canceled in India.

Hi Chris,

I have always been your fan. I have followed your career pretty closely- from your rookie 'Zizzee' days to your brilliant riding on Fame Star, downing Aslam Kader's Alternator. I was witness to so much brilliance that followed over the years.

As an aficionado of horse racing, it has been a joy seeing you go whipless on horses in a sport where riders often go mad with their whalebones. I also fail to completely comprehend what kind of mastery allows you to ride horses as brilliantly as you guided Tweedle Dee yesterday (sheer class!)

It then is pretty sad to see you do things that you did on Friendship yesterday. Not only was it a merciless attack on the faith of punters (I have left horse racing..so you did not hurt me)but also an unabashed brutalising of common racing protocol (that jockeys try to win on their mounts). Of course, with your expertise in the saddle you can even murder a horse and get acquitted. So what followed was a farcical steward action where your side was technically explained. We have gone blank in our heads wagering on the future for years...but we are not nuts yet Chris...sometimes, may be not often, but sometimes, we can see....

You are a big guy and you won't care to explain this point. Time will pass and even the memory of such fraudulent riding will be blotted by more profane acts in the future.

Yet, the regard for you that had seemed to be one of the fulcrums of my love for racing diminished beyond redemption yesterday. A part of my heart was torn apart never to be sewn again.Thank you Mr. Christopher Alford.

@Destiny 1,

There was public protest and an enquiry was held. Alford given clean chit.

Suspension? Punishment?? In which land you are? Thank God that stewards did not gave him a big amount as compensation/damages for subjecting him to enquiry and causing him few seconds of tension!