Fairview Graveyard. The walking dead work here, it seems.
The National Horseracing Authority pose a bigger threat to horseracing than any casino. Got your attention? Radical thinking maybe, depending on who pays your salary. But their handling of the objection today at Fairview was downright amateurish in an industry that funds their very existence.
The racing operators were beating the eradicate-the-jockey-club drum not even six years ago. One can only question whether there is sanity in considering bringing the rand-sapping policing function in-house when the operators themselves battle to cope with routine public relations on a daily basis.
Without too much thought, an autonomous apolitical body tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the integrity of the sport of horseracing is necessary. But then they should not be allowed to get away with murder when it comes to communications and transparency. After all Joe Public pays their salaries too, surely?
The Port Elizabeth Stipendiary Stewards did little to enhance their endearment in this industry at Fairview today. Their judgement call in controversially amending the result of the third race resulted in close to 100 000 Place Accumulator being consigned to the hard luck history books.But that’s not the issue. It is the way the cookie crumbles. Punters are hardened creatures. They can take the good with the bad. It is the complete and utter lack of communication that riles.
The third race this afternoon always looked a minefield with a fourteen strong mixed sex motley crew of moderates going to post. The ensuing mad scramble over the final 200m had half the field in the running for a cheque and it was Mitch Wiese and Derryl Daniels who pulled the rabbit out of the bag in the shape of the Jallad gelding Flying Hawk. The fun and games were all happening behind him.
The provisional result showed the unique spectre of a three way dead-heat for second. A flying Imposing Model had shared the spoils with Derbaas and the most fancied of the lot, the consistent Sudden Surprise – who admittedly looked to be running on empty down the inside. The Stipes objected against Sudden Surprise on behalf of Derbaas for bumping in the latter stages –we guess.
Laugh a minute
The objection was upheld and much to the chagrin of the majority of PA players, their tote favourite Sudden Surprise was placed fourth. The PA dividend went from R6-50 with Sudden Surprise in joint second, to R26-50 after the Stipes had waved the hand of god. The enthusiastic Gareth Pepper in the Tellytrack studio brought us the new result with a hint of sympathy in his voice. Cowboys don’t cry, as Naas Botha used to remind us. Subject closed.
This is where the National Horseracing Authority should hang their heads in shame. Not only was this the second leg of one of the most popular bets in a popular venue, their result change was unique. A triple second placed dead-heat had become a double dead-heat for second with the tote favourite going due west. Nobody had the decency to take a microphone and stand in front of the camera and explain anything. Even a bemused on-course Gavin Venter didn’t mention it.
There were easy regular ten minute gaps, so they had better not blame a congested programme
Phumelela are in charge of the show. What was their Duty Manager doing to ensure something went out to the punting public?
The message? The customer in this game is dispensable. Up yours Joe Public – take it or leave it
