Who Nose? A briiliant ride or a charade? Anton Marcus returns on War Path
The aftershock of Sunday’s abandoned Clairwood meeting will be felt for weeks and months to come for Clairwood Racing and around the country. But if history is our guide, then absolutely nothing will change.
The meeting was abandoned after the ‘running’ of the sixth race, the R120 000 King’s Pact Stakes for 2yo fillies over 1000m.
The gate of the well backed deep in the red favourite My Sanctuary failed to open on time with the other runners, and she was never in the hunt, as a straggly start saw the jockeys twisting their necks and waiting for the signal.
The rule says, ‘play to the whistle’ though.
The KZN Starter was the only person breathing on this planet that didn’t appear to see or absorb the goings on.
As they may say: ‘every man and his dog’ saw it.
But that is not funny, especially if you, like us, have backed a few dogs. There just happened to be one chasing the bunch down the straight too.
But it just wasn’t funny at all.
The race was declared official by the Stipes after the mandatory review, and the realisation that despite being left and not ridden out early, the favourite had no chance at all.
The rule 61.5.10.1 is clear.
Should the starter consider that through any faulty action of the starting gates or from any other cause, a fair start has not been effected, he may declare a “no start”. Should the starter not declare a “no start”, the SB may, after a hearing, declare any HORSE, which was impeded at the start by a front gate not opening, a non-runner provided that a horse which is ultimately declared first, second, third (whoops!) or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner
But surely there should be a degree of leeway, when an official messes up as badly as the starter did. He is, after all, only human.
Some of the questions, that spring to mind:
Why was My Sanctuary not withdrawn after playing up and falling over backwards?
First loss is best loss. Why should badly behaved erratic, potentially poorly schooled(maybe not in this case) horses impact on well behaved types?
If that wasn’t a false start, what was it?
That was a false start. The starter cocked up.
Ironically, all seven jockeys deserve life for not riding their mounts all the way fully and for pretending they thought it was.
Will we see the starter’s report?
Rule 61.5.11 says ‘The decision of the starter concerning the start of a RACE and whether a “no start” shall be declared, shall be reported to the SB’.
We would love to understand his thinking. Assuming he did.
Will the starter face a disciplinary enquiry and be granted a free eye test at Specsavers in Umhlanga Rocks?
We doubt it. When last was an official or a stipe subjected to the same requirements and obedience expected from jockeys, trainers and other licenced officials?
With the recent Kimberley Dynamic Dynasty passport debacle, the trainer and assistant trainer (for her spoken word) were nailed.
The Stipes? Nope, they carry on.
Who let the dog out?
Dogs on racecourses are tantamount to braaing a chop in your mini Weber on an overseas flight.
Was the Betting Takeout adjusted?
Exotic punters were nailed 100 percent, but the province, the taxman and the betting operators grabbed their full takeout without penalty.
Were the connections compensated?
The very next scheduled race, the day’s feature saw a field of thirteen going to post. What happens to their programmes into Champions Season? Will the owners be compensated for raceday meds and shoes, as an example?
And the owners that flew in from other centres and booked expensive lunch tables?
Tough takkie.
Hey, it is called rub of the green, my China.
