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I don’t ever remember Ruby Walsh finishing a circuit early
They could have guys at the finishing post holding up boards with the number of laps left, like in motor racing!
It was reported in the Post today that Sam Thomas ‘received a piece of Waterford Crystal for finishing as Fakenham’s top rider for 2007/08’.
The track’s best jockey across a twelve month period and he can’t count to three, nor take notice of the fact that he’s had to pull right across the remainder of the field whilst they continue on a completely different path.
An award well deserved, clearly.
Amazingly the Fakenham clerk of the course (David Hunter) when just interviewed on ATR stated he would prefer to leave it up to the jockeys rather than give the responsibility to a member of staff to put a few cones down as they might get it wrong
It must be rocket science after all.Thought the strange thing about it was Thomas didn’t appear to be riding a finish, although he was cantering so were others right behind him, it’s not as though he was 10 lengths clear.
The Stewards called before them Mr S Rees (7), the rider of PURR, and asked him to explain why he appeared to drop his hands shortly before the winning post and was subsequently beaten by a neck into fifth place. Having heard his evidence and reviewed a video recording of the race, the Stewards found Mr S Rees (7) to be in breach of Rule 156(i) in that he failed to ride out for fourth place. They suspended him for 4 days which will be notified to him by the BHA.
The Stewards called before them Sam Thomas, the rider of OUMEYADE (FR), which started favourite and was pulled up having missed the second fence in the home straight with a circuit to run. Having heard his evidence and reviewed a video recording of the race, the Stewards found him to be in breach of Rule 156 in that he took the wrong course. They suspended him for 14 days as follows: Sunday, 1s, Tuesday, 3rd, Wednesday, 4th, Thursday, 5th, Saturday, 7th, Sunday, 8th, Monday, 9th, Tuesday, 10th, Thursday, 12th, Friday, 13th, Saturday, 14th, Sunday, 15th, Monday, 16th and Tuesday, 17th June.
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So :-
4 days and notified to him by the BHA – for dropping your hands and the loss of a place from 4th to 5th.
14 days and NOT notified to him by the BHA – for a heavily backed favourite taking the wrong course.
Sam should have been suspended for 2 years.
Backing two runners is the relentless pursuit of value. Backing each way is a shortcut to the poor house. Only 7% make a long term profit.
it’s 2008 and this sort of thing has happened once to often of late, the powers that be should have some sort of procedure to correct this and althought it was an Honest mistake i dont think the punishment is enough as it’s a serious mistake that cost people a lot of money and with the reputation of the sport to uphold, the 17 days ban is not the right message.
Suspended for 14 days – another 3 days for this :-
The Stewards further enquired under Rule 153 into possible interference after jumping the final fence with a circuit to run and found that OUMEYADE (FR), which was pulled up, ridden by Sam Thomas, had interfered with LOG ON INTERSKY (IRE), placed second, ridden by Mr Joseph Cornwall (7). They considered that the interference was caused by careless riding in that Thomas manoeuvred his horse to the left thereby causing interference to LOG ON INTERSKY (IRE). They suspended him for 3 days as follows: Wednesday, 18th, Thursday, 19th and Friday, 20th
A bad day at the office for Sam. Total 17 days.
Backing two runners is the relentless pursuit of value. Backing each way is a shortcut to the poor house. Only 7% make a long term profit.
Well, I’ve read right though this thread and, having not seen the race, I remain unsure about what actually happened, or why.
Is there any suggestion that a likely winner was "stopped" deliberately?
If there is, wouldn’t the authorities be better looking at who gained by laying the horse?My guess is that it was a careless error. Obviously, that’s no excuse or comfort to any who have lost because of it, but, in this game, as in others, human error has a big effect on results.
That’s why I always chuckle quietly when I read " it’s the horse that counts -not the jockey."
Quadrilla
The reason that Mr Rees will be notified of the dates of his ban by the BHA is due to the fact that he is an amateur. The idea being that he is banned on days where it will have some effect on him, not just days where there was no likelyhood of him riding.
Thanks for this info Marko. I knew this – I was just emphasizing that Sam’s crime did not go anywhere near HQ !
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Suspended for a further 3 days. From 14 to 17 days !!!!!!!!!
————————————————————————————-Thomas speaks out about Fakenham blunder
by Racing Post staff
GOLD CUP-winning jockey Sam Thomas has spoken for the first time about mistakenly taking the wrong course at Fakenham, for which he received a 17-day ban, on Sunday.
After riding a winner at Towcester on Tuesday night, Coach Lane – his first mount the Fakenham fiasco – Thomas said: "I have to live with it and it is certainly not the best feeling. I haven’t bought a paper in the last two days so I haven’t read anything about what has been said. I have to put it behind me and get on with it.
Told that the course was looking at taking measures to try to prevent a third incident after his and Denis O’Regan’s rides, he said: "I am not sure what they can do but they could possibly put some cones in there."
O’Regan was banned for a fortnight in January for riding a finish a circuit too soon at Fakenham.
Backing two runners is the relentless pursuit of value. Backing each way is a shortcut to the poor house. Only 7% make a long term profit.
Hi David
Is that what its all about? Incidentally that is what the judge said to end the farce.The more you pursue this jockey the dafter you look.If the london police can look daft and the racing authority and betfair can then its ok if I join such an elite group.The sooner we forget the sooner we repeat.
It must be rocket science after all.
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