Jockey Marco van Rensburg pointed out to the Fairview Starter that he was in the wrong gate on Friday, but was told that he was incorrect.
Early on Saturday, we reported how two runners in the fifth at Fairview on Friday had jumped from the wrong gates.
Marco van Rensburg “I told the starter!” (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
An investigation was opened into the circumstances that led to Palo Alto and Fiery Fort swapping stalls at the start of the Fairview fifth on Friday.
In reporting the story we mentioned that there were 9 Stipes and 2 Starters presiding over the meeting.
We asked how 11 officials could not pick up such a basic error, and then also raised a question mark against the two jockeys involved as to why they hadn’t been aware of the wrong slots and made the officials aware of the error before it occurred.
Gauteng-based Marco van Rensburg has contacted the Sporting Post to clarify that he does in fact do race prep and was aware of exactly what stall-gate he was meant to be jumping from. He had in fact told the Starter that he was being loaded into the wrong box but was instructed to carry on.
While the matter is still sub judice, we accept what Marco has stated and apologise if we drew the assumption, based on the Stipes Report, that he or colleague Chase Maujean may have been party to the blunder.
The Starter clearly needs to pull his socks up.
