BOULIA TURF CLUB INC. STEWARDS REPORT SATURDAY 19/4/03

STEWARDS PANEL: CJ WATERS (CHAIRMAN); BJ Ledden (Club Steward)

WEATHER – FINE TRACK – FAST & DUSTY RAIL – TRUE

GENERAL: Stewards made
a track inspection on Friday morning at 10.00am. It was established that sections of the track from the 600 metre mark to the 300 metre mark had suffered water damage owing to heavy rain in the preceding week. The Club undertook emergency maintenance on this section of the track and a further track inspection by Stewards at 8.00am on race morning at which time the track was declared safe for racing.

RACE 1: MAIDEN HANDICAP – 800 METRES

BEDOURIE’S QUEEN who was having her first race start was very slow into stride when a start was effected. Subsequently the filly lost considerable ground. The horse raced very ungenerously in the early and middle stages of the event and approaching the 300 metre mark shifted inwards sharply and hampered OUR FRAN. On returning to scale Jockey K. Ballard the rider of YPRES (the race winner) reported that his mount balked 150m from the winning post at the amusement rides located in the centre of the track. Following a request from all riders, Stewards then approached the Club representatives and instructed that the amusement rides within the centre of the course be shut down until completion of the meeting.

RACE 2: CLASS 2 HANDICAP – 1000 METRE

Both ARTIC CIRCLE and DANZIG RAIDER lost ground at the start when both horses were a fraction slow into stride. Approaching the 750 metre mark LORD GEIGER appeared to check and loose ground when racing on the inside of CROCKETT. Over the final 200 metres RULING RANCH had a tendency to shift in and subsequently the horse was accidentally struck across the head by the whip of K. Ballard the rider of CROCKETT who was racing on the horse’s inside at this point. Stewards inquired into an incident at the 750 metre mark when LORD GEIGER was checked and lost ground. After taking evidence from jockey K. Ballard the rider of CROCKETT and jockey M. Cummings the rider of LORD GEIGER it was established that even though CROCKETT had shifted inwards abruptly at that point, there was evidence also that LORD GEIGER may have had a tendency to hang outwards slightly owing to the tightness of the track at that point. Due to the conflicting nature of the evidence submitted and the lack of a head-on patrol film footage of the incident, Stewards decided to take no further action in this matter, other than to note all the circumstances for future reference.

RACE 3: WEIGHT FOR AGE – 1000 METRES

SAHARA CANADIAN was slow into stride. Approaching the 550 metre mark JEANIE IRENE threw its head in the air and lost ground resulting in the horse having difficulty in holding its ground at that point. No other racing incidents.


RACE 4: CLASS 4 HANDICAP – 1000 METRES

CANNIO was a fraction slow into stride. No other reportable racing incidents in running.

RACE 5: BOULIA CUP OPEN HANDICAP – 1400 METRES

DESERT PHOENIX (NZ) was a fraction slow into stride. It was noted by Stewards that the race winner WHIPSTICK raced wide on the track from the entrance of the home straight to the winning post. On returning to scale LORD DENTATA (NZ) was found to be lame in the near side hind tendon area after an examination by the club veterinary surgeon. The connections of the horse were advised that they would have to furnish to the Stewards a full veterinary clearance prior to the horse starting again as per the terms of LR36(b).

RACE 6: CLASS 6 HANDICAP - 1200 METRES

No reportable racing incidents in running.

GENERAL: 4 bookmakers fielded at the meeting.

ALL WINNERS WERE SENT TO BE SWABBED AND SAMPLES FORWARDED TO THE RACING SCIENCE CENTRE FOR ANALYSIS.




CJ Waters
Chairman of Stewards