Melissa Jones

Unbeaten three-year-old miler Bow Echo has been retired after suffering a setback, ending a remarkable campaign that included victories in the 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes. Trainer George Boughey and jockey Billy Loughnane praised the colt, who retires after six starts and an unblemished record. His absence ends his emerging rivalry with Gstaad and makes Gstaad the new favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Hamad Al Jehani was praised after Wathnan Racing recorded seven winners during the 2026 Qatar Goodwood Festival. His horses Archivist and Evening Saigon won the Coral-backed Golden Mile and Stewards Cup respectively, generating more than £218,000 in prize money. Racing advisor Richard Brown credited Al Jehani’s training ability and the team’s planning, while jockey James Doyle partnered Evening Saigon to victory after the horse had also performed well at Royal Ascot. Several other trainers and jockeys contributed to Wathnan’s successful week.

Jim Crowley has retired from horse racing at the age of 48, choosing Goodwood as the setting for his farewell because of his strong connection with the course. He celebrated his 2,000th winner there in 2020 and won the Sussex Stakes three times, naming Baaeed as the best horse he rode. Crowley’s career ended after a serious fall at York in 2025 that required five operations, and he plans to apply for a training licence in the coming months.

Top jockey Jim Crowley has retired at 48 after suffering pelvic and leg fractures in a September 2025 fall at York that required five operations. Although he considered returning to racing, he concluded that he could not regain the fitness needed to compete at his previous level. Crowley, a former champion jockey and long-time rider for Shadwell, enjoyed major successes with horses including Battaash and Baaeed. He plans to begin training racehorses later in 2026.

Andrew Balding celebrated Kalpana’s victory in the £2 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, where she defeated defending rival Calandagan by a length and a half. Balding said he may get his first tattoo after previously promising his daughter he would do so if Kalpana won the race. He credited jockey Colin Keane and said Kalpana’s improved fitness was decisive. The win also continued the Balding family’s connection with the race, following his late father Ian’s 1971 victory.

Kalpana reversed her previous-year result against favourite Calandagan by winning the £2 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot by a length and a half. Trainer Andrew Balding credited her improved fitness and condition, while jockey Colin Keane said the mare demonstrated her true class in a particularly strong international renewal. Calandagan’s trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said the horse ran well but may have been affected by the shorter 20-day gap since his previous race.

Father-and-son trainers John and Rhys Flint recorded their first treble at Chepstow, with Auburn Avenue, Spirit Of The Bay and Crimson Road winning at combined odds of 419-1. The family-run Kenfig Hill stable, which has 20 horses, had targeted the meeting and brought six runners before an audience of around 60 owners and friends. Rhys Flint said the result was the best day in the stable’s history, following significant investment and hard work to expand its training facilities. The stable now plans to build on the strong finish to the season, with a greater focus on Flat horses.

Trainer David Easterby completed the second leg of his 326-mile charity bike ride in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance by cycling from Sheriff Hutton to Ripon while wearing the racing colours of Sondad, whose win at the Curragh followed later in the day. Joanna Mason guided Sondad to victory, praising the horse’s attitude and race setup. Easterby continues his multi-day ride to several Yorkshire tracks during the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival and has raised over £5,500 for the cause.

Tributes from colleagues, local sports clubs and community members honor longtime Coolmore Stud employee Michael Knightly, who died in a road accident near Dundrum in Tipperary. Knightly, noted for his decades of service to the Stud and involvement in local sports organizations, was remembered as a gentleman and a valued community figure. Funeral arrangements were announced, and condolences were shared widely by Fethard GAA and Slievenamon Celtic Kilsheelan United Football Club, reflecting his strong local impact.

Ryan Moore expects a stronger performance from Amelia Earhart in the Irish Oaks after her disappointing run at Epsom, noting unusual race conditions contributed to the result. Thundering On, the Epsom winner, has been withdrawn, reshaping the market and positioning Earth Shot as the new favourite. Joseph O'Brien reports Johanna Walsh is well prepared and suited to conditions, while Wathnan Racing expresses optimism about Earth Shot’s continued improvement.

Paul Robson is giving up his racehorse training licence due to financial strain, citing sharply rising operational costs and lingering effects of a serious 2025 riding accident. The former jockey, who previously worked as an undertaker, will leave his base in Northumberland to join Nicky Richards’ stable in a supporting role, with several of his owners expected to follow. He expressed gratitude to long‑time supporters and noted that a Cheltenham win with Cannock Park was a career highlight. Robson follows other trainers who recently exited the profession amid the sport’s increasing expenses.

KSI celebrated his 33rd birthday with a winning bet on Venetian Sun at Royal Ascot, attributing his choice to his lucky numbers. He described the event as spectacular and praised the athleticism of the horses. The meeting also saw notable appearances from the Royal Family, while Aidan O'Brien secured his 100th Royal Ascot win and Scandinavia claimed the Gold Cup in a close finish.

Christophe Soumillon lost his irons while challenging for victory on Goliath in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, forcing him off balance and contributing to the horse finishing third behind Giavellotto and Kalpana. Soumillon called the incident unexpected and noted he was lucky to stay in the saddle after a difficult week that included a suspension. Giavellotto’s trainer Marco Botti celebrated the narrow win, highlighting the horse’s consistent performances on the international stage and crediting Oisin Murphy for executing the planned ride.

Rossa Ryan won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with Orthodox, celebrating his second victory of the week as his new relationship with Ali Keating became public. Ryan praised the horse’s potential, while trainer Clive Cox highlighted its strong pedigree. The couple received supportive reactions online, adding to a successful week that included Ryan’s earlier win with Daiquiri Bay.

Starting barriers at Sandown in Melbourne fell into a trackside lake during wet conditions, but two workers riding on the structure were unharmed after medical checks. The incident occurred after the seventh race as the barriers were being moved by a tractor. Racing Victoria’s chief steward noted the significant drop into the water and the workers’ good fortune. Replacement barriers were brought in for the next race, while trainer Lloyd Kennewell considers upcoming plans for winner Straand Deal.

Two heavily backed favourites, Urchin and Bradbury, lost likely victories at Beverley after hanging badly in their respective races, allowing rivals to capitalize. Who's Lope won the novice stakes after Urchin’s early misbehaviour, while Vietnorm took advantage of Bradbury drifting in the closing stages. Only one favourite succeeded on the card, and a 66‑1 outsider claimed the final race, prompting frustration among bettors.

Investigations continue into a hole discovered at Haydock racecourse that forced the abandonment of three races on May 23, with officials still unable to determine the cause or when racing will resume. Upcoming fixtures have been relocated while experts assess the problem, and uncertainty remains ahead of a scheduled June 20 meeting featuring a Tom Grennan concert. The issue emerged when the horse Friendly Soul was pulled up after encountering the hole, prompting stewards to halt racing on parts of the track.

Jockey Diego Lima received a two‑day suspension for striking Ranting Duke on the head with his whip in the York starting stalls and faces possible disqualification for exceeding permitted whip use during the race. Racing pundits strongly criticised the incident, noting repeated strikes and calling for stricter enforcement. The BHA stewards confirmed the ban for improper riding, with a rule‑based review of whip usage to follow.

Legacy Link strengthened her prospects for the Betfred Oaks with a determined victory in the Musidora Stakes at York after stablemate I'm The One was withdrawn from Oaks consideration. John Gosden praised Legacy Link's courage in her seasonal debut, which prompted bookmakers to shorten her odds to second favourite behind Amelia Earheart. Despite previous market support, I'm The One was removed from the race following an underwhelming performance at Chester. Bookmakers noted the potential for Gosden to repeat his Oaks double achieved in 2023 with Soul Sister.

Paco Lopez came under scrutiny after repeatedly looking behind while leading aboard Cloud In The Wind at Parx, allowing Yedsit Hazlewood on So Swell to close along the rail and take the win. Fans criticised Lopez’s lack of urgency, especially in light of a previous suspension for whip violations and another recent disciplinary case at the track involving jockey Eliseo Ruiz. Lopez is scheduled to ride Napoleon Solo in the upcoming Preakness Stakes.

Japanese racehorse Danon Bourbon will undergo surgery in Hokkaido after a fractured knee was discovered following his fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Manabu Ikezoe confirmed the colt returned to Japan for further X-rays and quarantine before the procedure, with no timeline set for recovery. The injury emerged after a strong performance in which Danon Bourbon led into the straight before being overtaken late by Golden Tempo. The colt had been unbeaten in three races in Japan and entered the Derby after a dominant win in the Fukuryu Stakes.

Film producer and racing owner George Waud secured a Derby berth for his colt Maltese Cross after a determined victory in the William Hill-backed Lingfield trial. Guided by jockey Tom Marquand and trained by William Haggas, the colt earned a 14-1 quote for the upcoming Classic at Epsom. Waud credited his team for sourcing the horse and expressed emotional excitement about the achievement. Haggas indicated confidence in heading to the Derby, citing Maltese Cross’s tenacity and progression from previous performances, while Marquand described the horse as highly promising for the longer trip.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy return to the United States with Zanahiyr, last year’s American Grand National winner, to contest the Grade One Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes at Percy Warner Park. After a recent warm‑up run in Ireland, Zanahiyr enters as the race favourite and aims for his eleventh career win. The horse steps up to three miles and faces rivals including former stablemates Fil Dor and James Du Berlais. Elliott also fields Blue Waters and Famous Figure in accompanying events as several horses from his yard continue their campaigns in the United States.

A malfunction in the starting stalls at Ripon caused a false start, forcing the six-furlong handicap to be run using a flip start that left some horses slow away and prompted punter complaints and refund requests. Two runners were withdrawn after the initial failure, and U Sure Do won the re-run, contributing to a treble for trainer Tim Easterby. Stewards investigated the fault and forwarded a report to the British Horseracing Authority.

Kyren Wilson celebrated the victory of Donegal Rose in a delayed Ladies Day race at Chester following safety concerns after several horses slipped in the opening event. Remedial work, including grass cutting and sand application, allowed racing to proceed. Wilson praised jockey Oisin Murphy’s ride and highlighted Michael Owen’s guidance in his involvement with racing. Concerns raised by multiple jockeys prompted an inspection, after which officials agreed the track was safe to continue with adjusted race times.

Two final races at Goodwood were cancelled after Yabher, the winner of a 1m1f handicap, slipped in the pull‑up area, causing jockey Cieren Fallon to fall. Fallon walked away gingerly and an inspection involving riders, officials and the clerk of the course deemed conditions unsafe following heavy rain on quick ground. Stewards ordered the meeting abandoned after multiple horses were reported to have slipped.

Bow Echo won the Betfred 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, giving jockey Billy Loughnane his first Classic victory and maintaining the colt’s unbeaten record. Trained by George Boughey, the 9-2 shot finished well ahead of Gstaad and Distant Storm, the joint favourites. The win marked a significant milestone for Boughey and came in the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

Favourite Baeza lost significant ground at the start of the Alysheba Stakes when the gates opened before jockey Junior Alvarado felt the horse was ready, leaving the pair to recover from a slow break. Despite rallying strongly, Baeza finished third behind Corporate Power and Skippylongstocking. A stewards inquiry into possible interference between the first two horses ultimately upheld the result, giving Corporate Power a graded stakes win for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Veteran Australian jockey Shane McGovern, 67, had both legs amputated after being trapped for six hours beneath his horse, Reformist, which collapsed and died during trackwork. His injuries included dislocated shoulder and broken ribs, and he remains in recovery in Townsville Hospital, where further surgery is expected. Racing Queensland and the Queensland Jockeys’ Association have contributed significant donations to a GoFundMe supporting his long rehabilitation, with total funds raised nearing $77,000.

Robbie Dunne sustained a broken collarbone after Stellar Story fell at the 19th fence during the Grand National, with the horse rolling onto him before he was taken to hospital for scans. He has been discharged and is expected to be out for around a month while rehabilitating at Oaksey House. I Am Maximus won the race under Paul Townend, with multiple fallers reported and Mr Vango remaining under care for a neck fracture but expected to recover.

Magnitude led throughout to win the Dubai World Cup under Jose Ortiz, who celebrated emotionally after holding off Japan's star horse Forever Young. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the winner finished a length ahead, with Meydaan taking third for Simon and Ed Crisford. Ortiz highlighted the horse’s versatility and strong break from the gate, while owner Ron Winchell praised the preparation that contributed to the victory.