‘Disgraceful’ moment idiot racegoer launches pint at Grand National-winning jockey and horse

THIS is the appalling moment a racegoer launches a pint at a horse and jockey as they run past – before being kicked off the racecourse.

Furious punters demanded the person responsible be hit with a lifetime ban for the disgusting act, which came at Fairyhouse racecourse on New Year’s Day.

The horses and jockeys were running past the finish post in the 3.15 when cameras caught the pint flying through the air.

It appeared to be thrown from one of a small group of lads at the finish line.

One racegoer immediately goes over to confront them once he realises what has happened, but it was then the cameras cut elsewhere.

A video of the incident was circulating on social media on Saturday night and Fairyhouse racecourse confirmed the person responsible had been identified and removed.

Sun Racing has contacted Horse Racing Ireland for comment.

Punters were absolutely furious by what they had witnessed and demanded the culprit never step foot on a racecourse again.

One said: “If it was my decision he’d be banned from every racecourse for life!”

Another commented: “Disgraceful and unacceptable.”

One comment read: “Absolutely unacceptable, lifetime ban nothing less!”

A fellow punter said: “Should be named and shamed. Disgraceful behaviour.

“We all get frustrated at losing bets but I’d never dream of throwing my pint at a horse/jockey even if it meant no harm.”

Another post read: “Disgraceful and unacceptable. Find him and ban him for life!”

While one tweet said: “Absolutely undefendable. This p**s up at the races mentality is going too far.

“Well done that one man that said something. Should have been dragged to the weighing room to apologise.”

The drink appeared to be launched in the direction of top Irish jockey Davy Russell.

Fortunately it narrowly missed his head and bounced on the grass out of harm’s way.

He was riding the Gordon Elliott-trained Grand Paradis – a 5-2 chance – to third in the 2m5½f Happy New Year From Tote.ie Beginners Chase.

The race was won by Willie Mullins’ 5-6 favourite Jungle Boogie, with Sean O’Keeffe on board, while the Noel Meade-trained 4-1 Diol Ker came second under Sean Flanagan.

The incident could have been nasty for Grand National-winning jockey Russell.

He has showed incredible resilience to come back from a career-threatening injury suffered in October 2020.

Russell, who won the Aintree showpiece twice on Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, needed bolts drilled into his head as part of his recovery from a broken neck.

Sportsfile

Fortunately Russell was unhurt in the incident that appalled punters[/caption]

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