Derby day at Epsom kicked off in dramatic circumstances as jockey William Buick’s horse ran without him aboard it after a rival horse struck him in the head from the neighbouring stall.
Buick, who missed out on a second Derby triumph on Nations Pride, was sat aboard Blue Trail in the 1m2f handicap event that began in the afternoon. Remarkably, Approachability reared up in the stall next to Buick and smacked him in the head, only for the starter to let the field go with the 33-year-old still reeling.
Blue Trail went as the gates opened but was riderless as Buick was left in the stalls. Declared a non-runner, the horse appeared to have an influence on the race result as he interfered when runner-up Grenoble was chasing eventual winner Swilcan Bridge.
“He said that he was hit on the top of the head by the horse in the adjacent stall,” Racing TV Lydia Hislop said after speaking to Buick. “He just needed 30 seconds to collect himself.
“He said that to the starter and he said that other jockeys next to him had said that to the starter. He described it as 'very dangerous' because he was half on, half off the horse. And he said it was 'a very bad mistake’.”
Buick was assessed by the medical staff on site and was ultimately cleared to compete in his remaining rides for the day. Trainer Charlie Appleby added: “He's okay and thankfully he had that hat on.
“The horse's head just caught him on the front. He said for a couple of seconds he was catching his breath but he's okay, which is the main thing.”
The stewards reportedly assessed the incident and interviewed the starters, accepting that Approachability had thrown its head to the left and struck the head of Buick. It left the British-Norwegian temporarily dazed as he leaned to the left side of the starting stalls running board.
Buick was not fully mounted when the race began, which caused Blue Trail to leave the starting stalls riderless, forcing him to be classed as a non-runner. Jockey Tom Marquand believes the rogue runner stopped his Grenoble winning.
“It’s frustrating for us today as the loose horse has cost us,” Marquand said. “I saw the replay and it’s unfortunate for Will, but thankfully he’s okay and his horse is okay which is what matters.
Do you think Grenoble was denied victory by the riderless Blue Tail? Let us know in the comments section.
“We have to be happy with how we ran as he was a 25-1 shot, but you can't help but feel a little sick as it’s cost us a winner. Hopefully there'll be other days for him.”
On-course bookmaker Barry Johnson added: “The rule 4 on Blue Trail cost us over a grand. Fortunately, we hadn't paid out any winnings before the result of the inquiry was announced so we were lucky on that front.
“Our worst losers in the race were Mr Big Stuff and Box To Box so it was good to get those beaten.”
