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Champion jockey Bowen criticises 'stupid' calendar
Welsh jockey Sean Bowen has been crowned Britain's leading jumps rider for the second year in a row - but has called for changes to racing's "stupid" calendar. iwanktv.club
Bowen, who officially retained his crown after yesterday's racing at Sandown, says officials should allow for more meaningful breaks for jockeys.
The 28-year-old has dominated the 2025-26 season finishing on 241 winners, with second-placed Harry Skelton on 127 and Sean's younger brother, James, finishing with 105 in third place.
But he urged authorities to revisit the schedule in the future, to ensure jockeys can have time off earlier than this year's break.
"The racing calendar is fairly stupid, if I'm being honest," said Bowen.
"I'll have two days off [after Sandown's jump finale] and then I'm off to Punchestown. There's only two days put together twice all summer until our August break."
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The Pembrokeshire-born jockey has ridden in over 1,000 races this season, almost 500 more than second placed Harry Skelton.
"I think the calendar as a whole is not right, it doesn't really work, and two days put together twice all summer is crazy, really," he added.
"You have a day on, day off, day on, day off. It'd be very, very easy to put four or five days together, but they don't really think of that."
There will be a 19-day summer jumping break from 27 July to 14 August.
A British Horse Racing Authority spokesperson said: "We acknowledge the difficulties associated with optimising the fixture list during the summer and have continued to work to strike the appropriate balance, while maintaining the most competitive racing as possible throughout the period."
Targeting McCoy's record
Despite the criticism of the calendar, Bowen is already relishing the prospect of defending his crown next year.
"I can't wait to get back to zero and start all over again, to be honest," Bowen said.
"And we'll obviously try and do what we did this season, if not a little bit more."
Bowen's haul means Tony McCoy is the only jockey to have ridden more winners than him in a British jumps season.
That came in the 2001-02 campaign when the 20-time champion jockey recorded an astonishing 289 winners.
Bowen called that feat "incredible" but would not rule out at least trying to better it.
"I think we counted 290-odd days in a season - a winner every day - so I'll have to get a scoot on at the start," said Bowen.
"But I don't think it's something that's impossible to do. It'll obviously take a lot of hard work, but if it's something that I can do, I'll definitely be trying."
'The quality is something we need'
Bowen will also target trying to improve his record at some of racing's biggest events.
Despite a season of remarkable numbers and a Welsh Grand National success on Haiti Couleurs, Bowen has not ridden a Grade 1 winner, nor did he break his duck at the Cheltenham Festival.
"I always set out to be champion jockey but the quality wants to be with it and Cheltenham is the place we all want to win," he said.
"As far as stats go, I probably had a good Cheltenham this year in that I had a 25-1 second, a 50-1 shot finish third and a 25-1chance in that place too, but getting the good rides isn't easy.
"The quality is something we need but I have no doubt it's going to happen soon, hopefully it will be next season."
Real Madrid offered surprise chance to sign Manchester City midfielder
Real Madrid are in the market for a new midfielder, and signing one is a leading priority for this summer’s transfer window. Club bosses are finally planning to fill the void left by Toni Kroos/Luka Modric, with the likes of Rodri Hernandez, Vitinha and Kees Smit having been linked with the move in recent months.
At this stage, Rodri does not appear too high on Real Madrid’s list, meaning that a move is unlikely. But there is a chance that his Manchester City teammate ends up at the Bernabeu instead, in what would be a shock move.
As reported by Diario AS, Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign Bernardo Silva, who will be leaving Man City at the end of the season when his contract runs out. The Portuguese, who has also been strongly linked with Barcelona, has had his file sent to the Valdebebas offices by his agent, Jorge Mendes.
Silva has also been offered to Barcelona, as he seeks out his next move once his Man City spell comes to an end. He’s also been linked with Juventus among other clubs, but the prospect of playing in Spain is one that appeals to him more than most.
Real Madrid not in for Silva at this stage
Despite Mendes’ offer, Real Madrid have made it clear that Silva is one someone they are considering at this moment in time. They appreciate him as a footballer, but that does not transpire into genuine interest in signing him, which means that a move to Barcelona is much more likely at this stage.
It will be interesting to see who Real Madrid sign as their new midfielder, but it certainly won’t be Silva. His profile is not one that is needed in the current first team squad, so it makes sense that he is not on the agenda.
Humbled Brian Snitker inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame
Former Braves manager Brian Snitker sat up behind the podium in the press conference room at Truist Park one more time, and this time he was wearing a suit instead of a uniform.
With his family in the front two rows, Snitker reflected prior to his induction as the 42nd member of the Braves Hall of Fame before Atlanta played the Philadelphia Phillies. Even his son Troy Snitker, the Mets hitting coach who caught a last-minute flight after the Mets were postponed Saturday, was unexpectedly in attendance.
“It’s humbling, and just it’s a great feeling,” Snitker said. “Honestly feels really good to be in the presence of all (the inductees), those legendary Braves guys.”
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Snitker, 70, is in his 50th year with the organization, which includes managing for 10 years from 2016-2025. He skippered the Braves to the 2021 World Series title and reached the playoffs seven times. The Braves won the NL East six straight years under Snitker and his career record was 811-668.
Snitker’s scheduled pregame ceremony was moved indoors due to a steady drizzle at Truist Park that led to a rain delay. It was broadcast on the center field video board and included speeches from Chipper Jones, Terry Pendleton and Jeff Francoeur.
The Braves were besieged with injuries in Snitker’s final season when they finished 76-86. He stepped down on Oct. 1, 2025, and a month later the Braves hired his longtime bench coach Walt Weiss to be the new manager.
The transition has been better than even the staunchest Braves fan could have hoped for. Despite injuries to major pieces of the projected starting rotation, the Braves entered Saturday’s game at an MLB-best 19-8 and held a 6-game lead in the NL East.
“(Snitker) was around in spring training, and he’s been around here during the season, so we do a lot of the same things that he was wanting us to do when he was manager,” said center fielder Michael Harris II. “So yeah, it means a lot to this team and most of the guys that are here (played for him). Walt’s done a good job. And I know that’s because he’s been tag teaming with Snit over these years.”
As well as the Braves have performed this season, Saturday was about looking back at Snitker’s accomplishments in all of his roles with the organization. He is serving as senior adviser in the front office in 2026, which extends his career to 50 years with the Braves.
“I wasn’t doing anything but trying to be me,” Snitker said. “I’ve never tried to put on airs. I’ve never tried to be anybody but me. As a manager, I was talking about this with somebody last night, we have to do things the way we do them, because that’s how we do them. And I didn’t want to change. I just want to be the same guy every day. I know how hard this game is.”
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