Starting gate problems and inconsistent stipes

Race 3, Arlington on 7 Sept. The gate of ITS IN THE AIR opened before those of the other runners. Starter called "false start"but most jockeys "didnt"hear the siren so continued to race. The stipes overuled the starter and declared all horses runners as they felt it did not effect the race.

Now today in Race 3 Clairwood, the gate of FLY FIRST CLASS opened after the others , he jumps and is quickly up with the pace but finishes unplaced. Stipes declare him a non runner and new favourite also out of the places.

How is this for inconsistance from the stipes?

The first rule of Punting - Consistency
I love consistently bad or consistently good horses.
I expect the same from stipes - good or bad judgement- just be consistent.

Hibs with your experience does this only happen in SA or globally as well?

I agree with you, inconsistant decisions have become a norm in our racing....I believe UK stewards are far more consistant.

The starter in KZN is past his "sell by date" to be honest. I learnt that it pays to have a difficult horse down there as you will get loaded last. If your horse is well schooled, he will be loaded first, allowed to stand for up to 8 minutes, fall asleep, miss the break and run poorly - all this while the naughty horses are indulged and given extra time to mess around and upset the rest, and if you question that, you are told: if you don't like it, go back to Joburg.

It's also clear that the starter needs another method of calling a false start to the jockeys - the current method is clearly not working.

Hibs I am not sure if you saw the photo that was sent to us on course. Taken from Teletrack and shows every stall except Flyfirstclass's stall which is completely closed. He hits it open with his head as he jumped when the others did and not when his opened. He then jumps sideways after hitting the gate with his head. I think it was ano brainer that he was declared a non runner. Just to top it off he also cut his n/f hoof and was lame on that. Possibly when trying to get his footing back as he was chased out the stalls after them not opening.

Sorry to hear that craig,hope all comes well

Craig, sure Hibs not having a go about FFC in particular but at the Stipes/ start procedure in general as we had this same(reverse) happen in PE and the horse was declared a runner after stipes overruled the starter.

We didn't even have a runner in the PE race but felt that the affected horse should at least have been declared a non runner to be fair!

Hope your boy ok!!

I am sure he is not having a go at me. I think once starting head on was shown on Teletrack there would have been a riot if he had not been declared a non runner. Some bandages and tlc and sure he will be fine. Thank you.

Many of the problems with racing in this country are tough to fix,but the problem I have with those that control the game is that they can't even fix the fixables.This is a fixable situation,but it's been going on forever now and nothing ever changes.

Very disappointing,but what can be expected when ex-cricketers are the best we can do as management.

12 years of schooling is a great way to learn,but when it's 12 years of repeating grade 1 it's no good is it?