CAMOOWEAL JOCKEY CLUB INC. STEWARDS REPORT SATURDAY 05/4/03

STEWARDS PANEL: CJ WATERS (CHAIRMAN); M. Habberman (Club Steward)

WEATHER – FINE & HOT TRACK – GOOD RAIL – TRUE

RACE 1: CLASS 4 HANDICAP (GRASS FED) 1000 METRES

J. Felix replaced the injured J. Esser as the rider of GAELIC MIRTH. TYKE MY SON was slow into stride. ISAMINA refused to take part in the event after jumping and finished tailed off. The connections of the horse were advised that the horse is now barred from racing under the terms LR 36(b) until it completes a series of barrier tests to the Stewards satisfaction. No other racing incidents.

RACE 2: CLASS 2 HANDICAP – 1000 METRES

Both LOVE TO TOWN and COMMEDY LOVE were scratched after final acceptances. DEFER was a fraction slow into stride when a start was effected. ABBEY ROYALE, NAKAMURA and SWAMPEM were forced to cover extra ground in the early stages of the event due to the inside horses shifting out in an attempt to avoid the heavy inside track surface. On returning to scale, Jockey M Campbell reported that his mount DARK LINDT, who was having his first start in a clockwise direction, failed to handle the track at any stage, and was therefore a beaten horse shortly after turning for home.

RACE 3: CLASS 6 PLATE – 1000 METRES

PERMANENT was scratched after final acceptances. Owing to a clerical error in the official program Jockey K. Ballard was officially declared to rider of FINAL CLOSE in lieu of Apprentice D. Ballard and an announcement to the public was made to this effect. SADEEQ lost considerable ground at the start when the horse was slow into stride. No racing incidents in running.

RACE 4: CLASS 3 HANDICAP – 1200 METRES

Both CANNIO who was a dual acceptor for the meeting and LOVE TO TOWN was scratched after final acceptances. MUJAHID was penalized 1.5 kilograms for winning the previous day and his weight was therefore adjusted to 59 kilograms. An announcement to the public was made to this effect. Both MUJAHID and SEEJAAR lost ground when a start was effected due to both horses being slow into stride when a start was effected. On returning to scale Jockey J. Felix, the rider of MUJAHID reported that his mount raced very disappointingly and was a beaten horse at the 800 metre mark. Jockey Felix was also of the opinion that the horse had not backed up from its run on the previous day.

RACE 5: OPEN HANDICAP (GRASS FED) – 1300 METRES

M. Cummings replaced the injured J. Esser as the rider of GAELIC MIRTH. SUPPLE was penalized 1.5 kilograms for winning the previous day and his weight was therefore adjusted to 60.5 kilograms. An announcement to the public was made to this effect. No reportable racing incidents in running.
RACE 6: OPEN HANDICAP – 1300 METRES

Due to a clerical error, PEAT BOG was incorrectly declared an official acceptor for this event and was therefore a scratching after final acceptances. WHIPSTICK was a fraction slow into stride when a start was effected. Approaching the 600 metre mark both ARGOLD and MAHONGWE appeared to check and loose ground when racing to the inside of WHIPSTICK and the outside of RAMAADEE at that point. On returning to scale Jockey K. Ballard the rider of ARGOLD lodged an objection on behalf of his mount being placed second by the judge against the winner WHIPSTICK ridden by Jockey I. Coombes for alleged interference at the 600 metre mark. After taking evidence from both riders involved as well as Mr. W. Crossland (the trainer of WHIPSTICK), jockey J. Felix (the rider of RAMAADEE) and jockey M. Cummings (the rider of MAHONGWE) and on their own observations, Stewards believed that the amount of ground lost by ARGOLD as a result of the interference caused by WHIPSTICK was greater than the beaten margin and therefore the objection was upheld and the placing amended to read: First ARGOLD; Second WHIPSTICK; Third REDWAY. Correct Weight was then declared on these amended placings. At a subsequent inquiry, Jockey I Coombes was issued with a severe reprimand under the terms of AR137(a) (Careless Riding) by permitting his horse to shift ground when insufficiently clear of both ARGOLD and MAHONGWE resulting in both horses losing considerable ground. In arriving at that penalty, Stewards took into consideration Jockey Coombes riding record in that he had not had a suspension in 666 race rides together with the fact that the horse WHIPSTICK had contributed greatly to the incident. As time did not permit, Stewards also intend to inform connections of the horse that although there is no previous notings of the horse racing in this manner, they should be made aware of the horses tendency to shift ground inwards towards the rail, and owing to the horse large stature, every endeavor should be made to minimise this trait to alleviate a repeat of this type of incident or Stewards will give strong consideration to place an embargo on the horse.


GENERAL:
· 1 bookmaker fielded at the meeting.
· The Digital Photo Finish System was not in use for Races 1 and 2 owing to the lack of a competent operator being available.
· No Stewards Patrol Film Footage available owing to the unavailability of a suitable operator.

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



CJ Waters
Chairman of Stewards