MY CALL: KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

By David Fowler | Tuesday, July 28, 2020

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

The fall in the Rosehill opener on Saturday was the biggest talking point in racing on the weekend.

Many of you would have seen it. No fall is good to watch but this was visually horrific by race fall standards.

Its graphic nature prompted the shutdown of the replay from the available forums and social media went into meltdown.

What’s new.

I was more than mildly surprised by the venom directed against Hugh Bowman who will be at the centre of the stewards’ inquiry when it is reconvened.

Calls of life banishment and criminal charges weren’t uncommon.

I’m not certain more balanced responses actually balanced the tenor of the argument.

Without defending the more outrageous comments, their anger may have been based on the sole watching of the race and then being unable to see it again.

I’ve had access to the video and watched it several times to be confident in my own mind of penning some observations and thoughts.

Most importantly, several things have to be put in perspective.

First and foremost, Hugh Bowman is a good jockey and a good person. That goes without saying and is beyond argument.

The gravity of the situation wouldn’t have left him as he continued his profession throughout the day, riding another two winners apart from the first race.

If Bowman says he believed there was the opportunity to take a run outside the leader Mr Colorful he should be believed.

There seems little doubt that Bowman had to be more extravagant in moving out when Mr Colorful moves out slightly as well.

To compound the drama awaiting Andrew Adkins and Hot ‘N’ Hazy (outside of Smart Image, Bowman’s mount), it can be potentially argued that Duchess outside of the trio shifts in slightly.

Only the head-on footage will confirm or rule that out.

And without wishing to state the bleeding obvious, this all happens within a second.

There is no doubt Hugh Bowman will incur a penalty for this incident but it is not reckless riding.

Another conversation that was raised was does a legacy of a fall have a bearing on the strength of a penalty.

In this incident Andrew Adkins sustained multiple injuries and Hot ‘N’ Hazy was euthanised.

Is it possible that such a legacy is punishment in itself that will stay in Bowman’s mind for a long time to come?

Perspective is important in any matter. This unfortunate incident on Saturday is certainly no exception.

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