Once again, owner, trainer and punter get left sucking fresh air just as long as someone else has got the money by any means possible it appears, writes Brian Watson in the Sporting Post Mailbag.
The first race at Kenilworth on Tuesday 31 May saw 17 runners enter the stalls.
The gate on stall 12 did not open at the same time as the other 16 causing the filly Rustar Dhow to lose a length.
Where do the Stipes get their crystal balls?
There was a strong tail wind blowing that day meaning that by losing a length the other horses were already getting into stride before the filly in 12 even got going. She returned with a small cut on her nose indicating, prima facie, that she may had jumped with the others and forced her way through the gates that failed to open.
The jockey and the assistant trainer both complained to the starter.
They were both told that the filly was not impeded sufficiently to warrant being declared a non-runner.
Incensed, I approached the starter. Mr Ernie Rodrigues, the Chief Stipendiary Steward at Kenilworth, kindly allowed me to address him.
My questions were short and to the point:
“Are all horses meant to start on equal terms? Yes or No?” Mr Rodrigues answered with an unequivocal “yes”.
“Did all horses in race 1 start on equal terms? Yes or no?” Another unequivocal answer – “no”.
Therefore said I, the filly in stall 12 was at a disadvantage. No, said Mr Rodrigues. In his “opinion”, the filly was not placed at a disadvantage.
Let’s have a look at the official Stipes Report.
THE STARTER REPORTED:
RUSTAR DHOW (A Andrews) was slow into stride losing one length.
THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED:
The Stipendiary Board reviewed the start of the race regarding stall gate 12 (RUSTAR DHOW), which was slightly slow to open. After reviewing the patrol films from various angles RUSTAR DHOW was declared to be a runner.
What that means, said I, is that there are no rules in racing. It all boils down to your opinion. No answer.
The gates were slow to open and the filly lost a length but not enough to change the result of the race.
I wish I had one of these – even a tiny one!
So, what this all means is that Mr Rodrigues has a crystal ball in which he can forecast results of horse races.
I really need to know where to get one of those.
Either there are rules or there are no rules – which is it? I can think of no reason at all why anybody would want to own and race a horse in Cape Town with this type of situation where opinions rule the day.
I thought that the handicapper was meant to level the playing fields. Not so believes Mr Rodrigues. If the stalls don’t open his opinion becomes the handicap not the rules of racing.
I wonder what the National Horse Racing Authority has to say about it? (Ed- we have sent a copy requesting comment to Mr Arnold Hyde, NHA Racing Control Executive)
Once again, owner, trainer and punter get left sucking fresh air just as long as someone else has got the money by any means possible it appears.
No one has denied that the gate did not open with the others but the disadvantage to the filly is a matter of opinion.
Is it just a thumbsuck?
Oh boy!! So, if the gate opened 3 seconds late, is that ok? How about 4 seconds? At what point does the “opinion” warrant the declaration of a non-runner? How long must one wait? And, if there is an answer then there is a rule and the rule should be that all gates must open at the same time. Period.
I should have asked Mr Rodrigues why some horses should not get a 5 length start. He is quite comfortable with a one length start, so why not two or three or more?
And, while at Kenilworth on Tuesday, race 5 had 16 runners. 14 of the runners loaded easily and then due to one or two being fractious, the others had to stand and wait for around two or more minutes.
How can that be fair? The horses are pumping with adrenalin and they don’t understand waiting. They are trained to load and jump.
But, no worries, in the opinion of the powers that be, no harm was done and the owner and punter can carry on paying.
Rule 61.6.11 says:
The only HORSES which shall be deemed to have started will be those in the stalls when the starter releases the gates; provided that the SB after a hearing, may in its sole discretion and within the time period specified for the lodging of notification of an OBJECTION, declare any HORSE to be a non-starter.
