The barrier debacle at Rosehill on Saturday is just one more headache for an embattled Australian Turf Club. One more problem for a troubled racing industry fighting for its financial future in the High Court of Australia. A migraine for punters, who parted with bundles of pelf to back plonk horse Somepin Anypin in the final event at Rosehill. There was no win collect, as Somepin Anypin was a certainty beaten due to the barriers opening late. Not opening as late as they did for talk horse Helmet in the $1 million Golden Rose. That horse is a headcase yet many had him down as leading, but the slow getaway meant he was back finding a lot of trouble. Helmet's missed start might have been minor but Somepin Anything was definitely major. A disgrace really, when you consider correct weight was declared. Amazing that the all-clear was given on the biggest betting race of the week that entails all manner of exotic wagers, including the last leg of the Rosehill quaddie and the cross-state Big6. Advertisement: Story continues below Chief steward Ray Murrihy said Somepin Anypin should have won. He agreed it was denied a fair start but racing's archaic rules don't allow for a horse that places to be declared a non-runner. Had Somepin Anypin finished fourth or worse, it would have been declared a non-runner and punters would have got their money back. It doesn't make sense. The rule is absurd. Surely, punters are entitled to their money back if a horse is unable to jump cleanly due to a barrier malfunction? No, the rule is there for the owners. If a horse places, owners are entitled to get prizemoney. Murrihy pointed out that bill payers have been known to sue race clubs when horses have been deprived of prizemoney due to being declared a non-runner. Well, what about fourth place prizemoney? They are paying down to 10th place in races such as the Melbourne Cup. What about race clubs putting away money to pay prizemoney for a horse that has placed and been declared a non-runner? The owner wins and the punter gets his money back. And don't worry, it will happen again - it's only a matter of time. The ATC's manager of racecourses, Lindsay Murphy, and his dedicated team can only ensure attention to detail remains on the agenda. ''The barriers get serviced before every meeting, checked after every race, and it will continue to happen,'' Murphy said yesterday. ''It has always been done. I don't know how many thousands of times they've started without sticking. ''It is unfortunate what happened. We've always been diligent with the maintenance of the gates, and that will continue to remain the case.'' At least one ATC employee goes over the starting stalls the day before each race meeting. Murphy will be in contact with the manufacturers, who, he said, ''have experts that are always happy to come and give them a check over, [and] we'll get them out again''. ''It is not as if we just pull them [barriers] out and use them for each meeting,'' he said. ''You wouldn't have expected it to happen.'' Maybe everyone should, as racing is all about the unexpected. How many people expected Manawanui to lead throughout and win the Golden Rose? Jockey Glyn Schofield pulled rivals' jodhpurs down. While he was dictating from the front, the favourite Smart Missile was getting into all sorts of trouble. The colt's jockey Glen Boss, expectedly or unexpectedly, let fly at apprentice James McDonald for causing mayhem on Foxwedge. Boss reckons apprentices should not be allowed to ride in group 1 races. Well, they've won Golden Slippers, Doncasters, etc. Not worth thinking about. It'll give you a headache.
0 comments:
Post a Comment