PUNTERS were left pulling their hair out after York’s big race descended into a total no contest.
The two pre-race favourites Stradivarius and Trueshan were dramatically pulled out earlier in the day.
Quickthorn takes the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes by a massive margin!
He opened up a huge lead and never gave anyone else a sniff#ITVRacing | #EborFestival pic.twitter.com/klM3tH6oyY
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 19, 2022
Nothing got close to Quickthorn in a race weakened massively by the scratching of the two market leaders
Stradivarius suffered a bruised foot while Trueshan was scratched at the last minute by trainer Alan King due to the ground.
That left just six runners – and a total runaway winner who was gifted a massive lead and never challenged.
Tom Marquand left his rivals absolutely miles behind en route to scooping the £140,000 Group 1 crown on Quickthorn.
Commenting on what they had just seen, ITV Racing pundit and former jockey Jason Weaver said: “There’s a lot of unhappy punters here.”
Punters online vented their fury at the whole incident, which cast a cloud over day three of the Ebor Festival.
One grumbled: “The sooner the f***ing jumps return, the better.”
Another said: “Surely the most rubbish race of the meeting.”
One punter wrote: “What a poor race, especially from the five jockeys behind.”
Another raged: “Absolutely pathetic from all but Tom.”
While one wrote: “Joke of a race.”
Another punter was scathing in their review, writing on Twitter: “Another bullet in the foot for British racing, what a farcical contest.”
Marquand himself admitted it was a ‘shame’ the race went the way it did after the two market leaders were withdrawn.
But he deserved full credit for masterminding a front-running ride that left his rivals for dust.
He said: “It’s a shame, if they were here I think he would have given them a proper race.
“He’s going to be giving them a good race in the future whenever they meet.”
Punters had been encouraged to wear black and yellow on Friday in support for Stradivarius.
The superstar stayer was set to run his final ever race on the Knavesmire but he was pulled out early in the morning by trainer John Gosden.
He said: “We did a routine check at 5am and found he had heat in his foot. We didn’t mess about and spoke to the owner and took him out sharpish before the box left at 5.30.
“It’s unfortunate but he’s never missed a dance in his life.”
While Trueshan’s trainer King, who decided his horse was a non-runner at the very last minute, said: “I’m sorry for everyone.”
