As far as weekday racing goes, events don’t come much more run-of-the-mill than a Class 6 Apprentice Handicap. However, last Monday evening’s Free Digital Racecard At raceday-ready.com Apprentice Handicap at Windsor was anything but ordinary.
No result will be entered in the record books for this 5f affair, in which six of the seven runners completed the course, and one rider was unseated in the stalls, as his mount set off still wearing his blindfold. An unsatisfactory affair all round, and one which resulted in a 10-day ban for five of the riders involved.
Faulty Gate and Misbehaving Master
All appeared well as the seven runners and riders entered the stalls and waited patiently for the race to begin. However, at the very moment the starter gave his orders, two events conspired to cause havoc.
Firstly, the stall of gate two flapped inwards rather than outwards, propelling Conor Whitley and Beaumadier backwards as his rivals set off. Beaumadier broke free with Dace in tow but lost many lengths in the process.
Unfortunate as Beaumadier’s beginning was, it was nothing compared to poor old Master Zack two stalls along. Whilst gate four opened correctly, Master Zack chose that moment to rear up, unshipping Ryan Kavanagh before the rider had a chance to remove his blindfold. Still keen to get on with things, Master Zack set off in the dark, veered alarmingly right, and dismantled three of the Windsor rails before being caught. Thankfully, both horse and rider emerged unscathed from the incident.
Flag Waving and Whistle Blowing Unheeded
A single stall failing to open does not automatically result in a false start. However, witnessing stall two malfunction and Master Zack set off wearing his blindfold, prompted the starter to recall the runners.
The starter and on-course steward waved their flags, with the latter blowing his recall whistle in an effort to recall the runners. All to no effect. Conor Whiteley attempted to pull Beaumadier up, but the other five runners ploughed on regardless, all the way to the finish line. Market leader Cabeza De Llave came home in front, but by that stage, the race had already been filed firmly in the void category.
Summarising the series of unfortunate events, Chief Stipendiary Steward Richard Westrop said: “What happened was the door on stall two flapped back as the start was activated, so on the basis of that, the starter called a false start. His flag was raised as it should be. The recall man, stood right in the middle of the track, waved his flag, and blew his whistle. The procedures were followed to a T.”
10 Day Bans for Five Riders
Riders Jack Dace, Taryn Langley, Jack Doughty, Alec Voikhnasky, and Tommie Jakes will all have a little time to consider exactly why they failed to heed the recall flag – each rider receiving a 10-day ban immediately after the race. The two riders to escape sanction were Ryan Kavanagh, who, of course, remained marooned at the start as events unfolded, and Conor Whiteley, who did at least attempt to restrain his mount.
“Winning” rider Jack Dace suggested he was unaware that a false start had been triggered, stating in the aftermath: “I wouldn’t have seen the flag as I was drawn wide. I don’t know why it would’ve been a false start even if the horse reared up.”
Dace and the four other suspended riders have the right to appeal their bans. If taking up that option, their case will be heard at a BHA hearing using rider testimonials and video evidence.