Initially I feared that the gin had taken its toll. Was that a replacement jockey I saw on Tellytrack at 12H15 on 6 July at Scottsville Racecourse jogging to the 1200m mark, saddle in hand – or was it a bird? So asks passionate racing fan, Ralph Fell in the Sporting Post Mailbag.
No, I was right.
A replacement jockey is sent to the start, he eventually cadges a lift, to partner a nag.
No one on Tellytrack could elaborate on what had happened to ‘ol Danny boy, the original pilot.
The net result is that the race is run fully 25 minutes late.
During this awkward period Deez tried to fill the time with banalities.
The nag in question was 66/1 at the jump and ran accordingly.
Did the fact that Lafferty is the trainer impact on this entire aberration?
In my gin-addled brain I thought that ‘horses unduly delaying the start’ were scratched.
‘It’s a Rush’ it ain’t.
Gold Circus, ya betcha.
Suggestion: Purchase a moped for similar eventualities!
***
Ed – The official Stipes Report reveals that Apprentice Danny De Gouveia was injured and that the ambulance transported him to the weighing room for medical attention. Thus the race could not have proceeded in any event until the ambulance was back at the start.
In this time Jockey Devin Habib togged up and weighed out – it may thus have been a calculated decision by the Stipes (scratchings can impact on betting turnover/ owners are present etc) rather than summararily scratching Play The Laff for delaying the start.
That said, it did look rather third world to see a replacement jockey running a kilometre to the start – although it appears he was given a lift by a passing vehicle at some point.
The Stipes said:
The start of this Race was delayed due to KIMBERLEY CLUB (AUS) (A Marcus) having to be re-saddled at the start. There was a further delay due to Apprentice D De Gouveia the rider of PLAY THE LAFF (AUS) being injured at the start and a replacement rider having to be weighed out and transported to the start. Thereafter the Race was further delayed due to the ambulance having to transport the injured Apprentice to the first aid room and return to the start.
