The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has said its investigation into the controversial unseating of jockey Philip Byrnes from Redwood Queen at Wexford in May is “nearing a conclusion”.
Redwood Queen is set to have her first start for trainer Cian Collins in the third race at Galway on Wednesday evening. She will carry topweight in a handicap under amateur rider Rob James.
The mare was claimed out of the hurdle race at Wexford for €6,000 in which she lost her rider at the final flight when looking to have the race at her mercy.
Philip Byrnes was unseated from Redwood Queen – then trained by the jockey’s father Charles – after the horse appeared to jump the obstacle well in an incident described by one TV pundit as a “soft unseat”. The odds-on favourite Beacon Edge took advantage to win.
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There was extensive coverage of the incident on all types of media and although the Wexford stewards took no action on the day, the IHRB quickly announced an investigation would take place.
Charles Byrnes commented at the time: “It’s obvious what happened. He was trying to get the mare to go in and pop it, because obviously she had the race won, and she came up out of his hands and blew him out of the saddle. There’s no one hurting more than Philip about it,”
On Tuesday an IHRB spokesman said: “We can confirm that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Redwood Queen’s unseat at Wexford on May 28 is with our racing regulation and integrity department and is nearing a conclusion.
“The IHRB is committed to ensuring the matter is concluded in a timely and thorough manner with regard to due process and fair procedures.”
Redwood Queen ran 17 times for Charles Byrnes and won five times. Having run in the colours of Cathal Byrnes at Wexford, she will line up for her new ownership, the Del Boy Partnership, in Galway.
