THE PLAINS, Va.--On Saturday.Oct. 24 at the International Gold Cup, Noah And The Ark broke down immediately after crossing the finish line in front in the $50,000 Timber Stakes.
Noah and the Ark with Skylar McKenna leading him and Todd McKenna in the paddock (Photo by Tod Marks)Despite Noah being clearly lame, Beswick remained mounted and rode the horse beside McKenna along the long route in front of the spectators all the way to the winner's circle, where he stood on three legs while win photos were taken with McKenna and the owners.
McKenna and Beswick then spent quite a long time being interviewed.
Trainers and spectators, both at the event and watching the live stream described watching the lame horse going to the winner's circle as "appalling,"
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the National Steeplechase Association announced that Trainer Todd McKenna and jockey Harry Beswick were fined $10,000 and $3,000 respectively and suspended effective immediately for the remained of the NSA season for "serious violation of the NSA Code of Conduct."
THIS WAS McKenna's second serious violation, having been suspended for a year in 2017 after being seen by a number of people kicking Serene Harbor in the stomach, presumably in an effort to kep the horse, who appeared to be colicing, from lying down, and then taking the horse to the paddock where he did lie down and was subsequently scratched by the veterinarian.
A number of trainers as well as spectators at the race and spectators watching the livestream were interviewed, and all agreed that the horse was seriously lame and that watching Noah And The Ark was not only appalling but that it was a terrible reflection on steeplechasing.
Not only was the race live streamed by NSA, it was also livestreamed on Fanduel.
Horse cruelty is a major topic both in flat racing and steeplechasing, and organizations like PETA are always waiting for an opportunity to strike.
A few people said they had seen a couple of people try to get Beswick to dismount,
In years of watching both flat and steeplechase race, every time a horse broke down the jockey immediately jumped off and waited for a horse ambulance to take th horse back to the barn.
"I asked Harry to get off," said McKenna. "The state vet overheard Skylar (McKenna, who had led the horse up) tell Harry to get down, but Harry said, 'No, I want a win picture.'"
"I was fined because the jockey wouldn't get off the horse"said McKenna. "I hope the sport doesn't suffer for this."
The bottom line is that it was McKenna's responsibility to get Beswick off the horse and see to Noah And The Ark desoite his excuses.
Instead McKenna didn't insist Beswick get down, walked with the limping horse to the winner's circle and then remained to accept the trophy and be interviewed.
At no time did he check the horse to see the extent of his injuries, rather he ignored the limping horse and then spent much time accepting a trophy and talking happily to the interviewer.
It was an appalling scene unfolding in front of anational audience.
The Virginia Racing Commission also held a hearing on this violation but the results of that hearing were not available at this time.
