Mr_Rajkamal Summary
Jockeys Nico de Boinville and Declan Queally have shaken hands after a dispute at the Cheltenham Festival in which Queally accused De Boinville of using racial slurs. De Boinville has strongly denied the allegation, and while both riders say the issue is now resolved, an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is still ongoing.
Jockeys Settle Dispute with Handshake
The controversy began during the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival when Irish amateur jockey Declan Queally accused England’s Nico de Boinville of directing racial abuse toward him before the Novices' Hurdle.
However, the situation appeared to calm on Thursday when both jockeys appeared together on ITV Racing and shook hands at the entrance of the weighing room. Queally said the matter had been resolved and described the incident as a heated moment during competition.
“All sorted and just a heat-of-the-moment battle. All is forgiven. Best of luck to Nico in the future,” Queally said.
De Boinville also welcomed the reconciliation and thanked retired Irish jockey Davy Russell for helping resolve the issue.
“Very much so and I appreciate Declan and wish him the best. Big thanks to Davy Russell for sorting this out,” De Boinville said.
Allegations and Denial
The controversy started after Queally claimed he had received repeated racist abuse from De Boinville during the chaotic start of Wednesday’s race. The two riders were seen exchanging words at the start line.
De Boinville, however, categorically denied using any racial language. He said the incident is under investigation and insisted that no racial slurs were used.
“From my point of view, I deny all the allegations against me. I can categorically say there weren't any racial slurs,” he said.
Chaotic Start to the Race
The Novices' Hurdle race itself began with several false starts, forcing officials to switch from a rolling start to a standing start. Jockeys were seen jostling for position as the race preparations became increasingly chaotic.
During the incident, Queally briefly appeared to fall from his horse before the race began but was later cleared by a doctor to compete. He eventually finished fifth in the race.
Reactions from Racing Community
Welsh Grand National-winning jockey Charlie Poste described the handshake as an “old-school” way of resolving disputes within the sport. He said tensions can run high during competitive races but resolving matters quickly helps maintain professionalism.
Legendary jockey AP McCoy also supported Queally’s right to compete, while former champion jockey Ruby Walsh criticised the race start system, saying it had failed for years and contributed to the chaotic situation.
Investigation Still Ongoing
Despite the public reconciliation, the British Horseracing Authority confirmed that its investigation into the incident will continue. Officials are reviewing video footage and gathering statements from jockeys involved.
The BHA said the process could take several days and would not be completed during the Cheltenham Festival.
Disciplinary Action
While De Boinville was cleared to continue riding during the festival, Queally received a one-day suspension for misconduct at the start. He was among four jockeys found to have breached race rules during the incident.
The final outcome of the investigation will depend on the evidence gathered by race stewards and officials in the coming days.
