On a Friday of blunders for horseracing that rounded off an embarrassing week from Durbanville to Fairview and Newmarket, the lesson may well be that the human tendency to err could probably be negated by instituting water-tight processes and basic controls.
While Durbanville’s Tuesday tote result error by an official apparently bizarrely distracted by results of an earlier meeting, smacks of a lack of oversight – some will say passion and genuine interest – the Fairview barrier gate switch on Friday is more difficult to comprehend.
An investigation has been opened into the circumstances that led to Palo Alto and Fiery Fort swapping stalls at the start of the Fairview fifth on Friday.
While the starter and the stipes –there were nine of them presiding over the meeting – were seemingly asleep, it’s puzzling why both jockeys Chase Maujean and Marco van Rensburg wouldn’t have stuck their hands up and raised the alarm?
We hear of jockeys studying the card and plotting their race. Surely knowing what gate you are drawn in is a basic tool of the trade?
Ed – after this editorial was published, Jockey Marco van Rensburg pointed out to the Sporting Post that he in fact drew the starter’s attention to the reality that he was in the wrong gate.
Earlier on in the afternoon, backers of the 3-1 favourite Ryanair had no luck. And the hard luck tale had its opening chapter at the start – again.
She started in gate 2 but had her head in gate 1 and as the start was effected the Handler, who had attempted to correct the filly, still had hold of her head resulting in her losing 4 lengths.
Whilst the Stipes accepted that she had lost significant ground as a result of this incident, the provisions of Rule 61.5.10.2 were enacted and she was declared to be a runner. So because she ran in the top four, the Stipes had no discretion.
Rule 61.5.10.2 states that subject to rule 61.5.10.3 in the event of the actions of a handler preventing a horse from starting in a race and/or resulting in a horse being impeded and thereby losing a significant distance when the stalls are opened, and no false start is declared, such horse may be deemed by the Stipes not to have started and the they are allowed to declare it to have been withdrawn, provided that a horse which is ultimately declared first, second, third or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner
The Starter will be interviewed regarding this incident. But we have been down this road before. Don’t hold your breath.
Ryanair, who was only beaten 0,30 lengths into third added to her backer’s woes and pulled hard in the early stages and then raced wide on the bend.
Aidan O’Brien’s bad day at Newmarket on Friday is reported seperately.
