Turf Club to investigate void Killarney race

THE Turf Club will hold a further hearing into the circumstances surrounding the decision taken by the Killarney stewards on Thursday to void the race ‘won’ by Stars Over The Sea.

Henry de Bromhead’s runner, sent off at 7/4 for the 14-furlong Rentokil Initial Race for qualified riders, has given trouble at the start before and was ‘led in’ on Thursday while the other seven runners stood waiting.

When starter Joe Banahan started the race David Roche’s mount ended up gaining an advantage on the field though the pace of the race was moderate in the early stages.

Stars Over The Sea led throughout the race and passed the post five lengths ahead of Ancient Sands (3/1), with 6/4 favourite Clondaw Warrior another couple of lengths adrift.

Bookmakers on and off the track were largely unaware of what was to come and many paid out on the ‘winner’ before the stewards concluded their deliberations. Bookmakers must return all stakes on void races. Some of the major betting chains paid out on the ‘winner’ as well as refunding stakes on the other runners.

The stewards heard evidence from Banahan and the riders involved, including Derek O’Connor and Patrick Mullins, who rode the second and third-placed finishers.

Having viewed the recording of the start and considered the evidence, the stewards were of the opinion that a fair start had not been effected. Using their powers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 10 they declared the race void. The matter was also referred to the Turf Club for further investigation.

Rule 10 (see below) outlines the scenarios in which the stewards can declare a race void. However, Rule 209 states that the starter’s decision as to the fairness of a start is final.

Stars Over The Sea is owned by Roger Brookhouse, who also lost a race in controversial circumstances in December 2014 when his Sadler’s Risk [also trained by de Bromhead] was disqualified after his rider weighed in 4lb light. It later transpired that a racing official had weighed out the rider incorrectly but, under the rules, ultimate responsibility lay with the trainer. Brookhouse plans to appeal this decision.

RULE 10

10. (i) The Stewards have full power to make (and if necessary to vary) all such arrangements for the conduct of the meeting as they think fit or to abandon the meeting, or part of the meeting or one race of the meeting or to declare a race void, in any of which events a full statement of the reasons for such decision shall be forwarded to the Office of the Governing Bodies within forty-eight hours after the decision for publication in the Irish Racing Calendar.

(ii) In addition to the powers of the Stewards set forth in Rule 10 (i), the Stewards may declare a race to be void if:- (a) The start is at an incorrect position (b) The start is on an incorrect course (c) The start is before the appointed time (d) All the horses run at incorrect weights (e) All the horses run over an incorrect distance (f) All the horses run over an incorrect course (g) The Judge is not in the box at the time the horses pass the winning post. 16 (h) A designated flag is raised denoting the race to be stopped on grounds of safety. (i) They consider that the faulty action of the starting stalls has materially prejudiced the chances of a sufficient number of the horses running in the race to justify declaring the race void.

RULE 209

209. (ii) The Starter’s decision as to the fairness of a start shall be final. In the absence of a signal by a red flag from the Starter the advance flagman shall lower the white flag when the horses have started.