Sports · Other Sports · 3 hrs ago
Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone cleared after Caulfield Cup crash
Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone received death threats after a horse died in a crash during the Caulfield Cup in Australia.
Some people accused the 20-year-old of causing the mid-race interference that led to two horses and their jockeys falling.
Racing Victoria stewards cleared Johnstone and the other riders involved two days later.
Johnstone, who had recently had his first Group 1 ride, was left shaken by the abuse and withdrew from social media.
His family and trainers urged him to keep riding, and he returned a week later to nearly win the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Mr Monaco.
He is due to ride Mr Monaco in the Melbourne Cup, where he is the only apprentice jockey.
His return shows he has continued racing despite the threats and criticism.
Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone and all riders involved in the Caulfield Cup crash were cleared of blame by Racing Victoria stewards.
The ruling came two days after the crash, which followed mid-race interference and the death of a horse.
Johnstone received death threats and abusive messages from people who accused him of causing the interference.
With support from family and mentors, he returned to racing at Flemington a week later.
He was due to ride Mr Monaco in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
- Who
- Jabez Johnstone and the other riders involved in the Caulfield Cup crash.
- What
- Racing Victoria stewards cleared them of blame. Johnstone had faced death threats and social media abuse after being accused of causing the interference.
- When
- Two days after the Caulfield Cup crash.
- Where
- The crash happened in the Caulfield Cup. Johnstone later rode at Flemington.
- Why
- Stewards cleared the riders of blame for the crash. The sources do not state their specific reasoning.
Social media critics
Racing Victoria stewards
Responsibility for the crash
Social media critics
Many critics accused Johnstone of causing the mid-race interference.
Racing Victoria stewards
Stewards cleared Johnstone and all riders involved of blame.
A horse died after a crash involving two horses and their jockeys.
Racing Victoria stewards cleared Johnstone and all riders involved of blame.
Johnstone rode Mr Monaco in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at Flemington and almost won.
Johnstone was due to ride Mr Monaco in the Melbourne Cup.
- Age
- 20
- Ruling
- Johnstone and all riders involved were cleared of blame
- Return to racing
- Rode Mr Monaco at Flemington a week after the Caulfield Cup
- Melbourne Cup
- Johnstone was due to ride Mr Monaco on Tuesday
What people are saying
When you’re getting death threats and hate messages, or you can’t even open social media without seeing your name everywhere, I think it affects anybody, especially someone at his age,
We just kept saying, ‘you’re not doing anything wrong. Keep your head down, keep working.’
so it’s just a part of racing, and you’ve just got to try and shut it out