I have been furnished with the report from Cape Chairman of Stipes Ernie Rodrigues regarding the matter of Mr Brian Watson’s enquiry about the horse Rustar Dhow, writes National Horseracing Authority Racing Control Executive, Arnold Hyde.
Arnold Hyde, on the right, pictured with colleague Cecil Van As
Ed – Mr Watson expressed his concerns in the Sporting Post mailbag after Rustar Dhow had been declared a runner at Kenilworth on 31 May.
Rule 61.5.10.1 – 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 or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner.
Arnold Hyde says:
Ernie Rodrigues concedes that Rustar Dhow’s front gate was marginally slow to open, however she turned her head inwards as the start was effected and was slow into stride.
Mr Rodrigues and his Board formed the opinion that when all the gates were fully open all the runners were still in the stalls and that Rustar Dhow had not been impeded by her gate opening fractionally slow.
I will be meeting with the Officials concerned to further discuss the incident and the decision that they came to.
