Racing: Railway Handicap start at Ellerslie raises tricky questions

Promethean in the Royal Stakes was another horse to have an interrupted start and be declared a late scratching. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

What constitutes a late scratching when there is interference at the start of a race?

That was a question being asked after Sunday's group one $200,000 Railway Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie in Auckland.

The race was won in fine style by favourite Baldessarini but it was the start of the race that caused controversy.

Magistra Delecta and Sedecrem both came out of the gates about a dozen lengths behind the rest of the field and, following an inquiry after the race, both horses were deemed late scratchings.

There was confusion over what happened at the start.

Some believed the gates malfunctioned. Some felt there should have been no refunds on Magistra Delecta because she caused all the problems. Others wondered why there was any refund on either horse.

Chief stipendiary steward Noel McCutcheon was not officiating at Ellerslie on Sunday but because of controversy over the incident he interviewed Magistra Delecta's rider Gavin McKeon yesterday.

First, it was confirmed there was no gate malfunction and McCutcheon said McKeon told him Magistra Delecta had created trouble from the time she entered the barrier.

"He said his horse went to go underneath the gate," McCutcheon said. "He called out for an assistant. An assistant went up to the stall with him and before the start was made, the horse lunged at the front gate and was laying on the front gate with its front feet off the ground.

"He said he called to the starter twice and the starter let them go. His horse virtually fell out of the gate and prevented Sedecrem from a fair beginning."

McCutcheon said ideally the starter should not have released the field or declared a false start.

He said the main reason both horses were scratched was the incident happened before or at the start, giving Sedecrem and Magistra Delecta no chance.

McCutcheon said a refund of bets should made if a horse was on its hind legs before the opening of the gates, or if horse had its head over or under the front gate.

A horse making a mistake or being interfered with after the gates opened did not constitute being denied a fair start, McCutcheon said.

"If the gate opens and the horse is slow away of its own accord - just doesn't jump out - that is bad luck and everybody has to live with that," he said. "If the gates open and a horse rears simultaneously, it's a runner, because it's first movement is up in the air rather than out."

McCutcheon said horses were often checked at the start but that alone was no reason for a horse to be a late scratching.

- NZPA