G'day Punter!

In this Discussion

Who's Online

0 Members & 35 Non Members

Stewards imposed $250 fine costs punters a lot more

West Australian Racing
PerthTurfTalkPerthTurfTalk    3,054 posts
It is a pet peeve for most punters when gear changes are not submitted to the race book and it is common opinion that the punishment doesn't quite fit the crime.

I have no doubt 95% of these errors are honest mistakes with no sinister motives.  But I also have no doubt with the leniency of the fines handed out and the acceptance of any excuse from the stewards that the more cunning out there realize they can use it to their advantage.

Here is the late stewards report for War Jeune from the 13th of May (for those who were on, it isn't overly pretty reading) -

W
AR JEUNE - Trainer Mr S Wolfe was interviewed in regard to the reason for the gelding racing without its approved gear (blinkers) as published. Mr Wolfe advised that the blinkers were inadvertently not fitted when the gelding was saddled and as he did not realise his error it was presented to race without blinkers. Gear checks conducted by officials failed to detect this oversight and consequently WAR JEUNE raced without blinkers. The race results have since been amended to show that WAR JEUNE raced without blinkers and that it will race with this piece of gear on at its next start. Mr Wolfe subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge under AR.140A for negligence in omitting to include blinkers when saddling WAR JEUNE with it racing without that piece of gear. In all of the circumstances, Stewards imposed a fine of $250.

$250.  Not good enough.  This was a horse who was backed 13s to 6s before this was known and there would have been $20,000+ available to be laid on the horse on betfair.  And the fine is $250.  

I do believe this to be an honest mistake from the Wolfe camp and make no accusations of anything more.  But that doesn't change the fact it has potentially changed the result of the race.  Where the hell is the deterrent if you can leave arguably the most important piece of gear off a race horse for a measly $250 fine?  Pocket change to a lot of the bigger stables.

Stronger deterrents rid our great industry of these errors and make the crooks think twice.  Once again the punter who funds the industry is put a long last.

Comments

  • AmtheoneAmtheone    41 posts
    Hold on.

    What were the stewards doing ? How hard is it to see if a horse is wearing blinkers or it isn't ? Why hasn't the stewards report mentioned that Steward "A" missed it then Steward "B" missed and so forth.

    Very very sloppy work by all officials.  Richard Burt is the CEO of RWWA. This needs to be handled directly by him not Brad Lewis and co. 

    thefalcon, Ridersonthestorm33, jum likes this post.

  • psychopsycho    653 posts
    Two people made a mistake here the bloke who saddled the horse and the "Police" at the track, if Wolfe or his associates were fined $20, 000 what about the steward who oversees this ? And if the jockey had done his form would he have not noticed something missing ? This is a complete stuff up start to finish

    thefalcon, Ridersonthestorm33 likes this post.

  • H-BOMBERH-BOMBER    10,236 posts
    Lots of mistakes goes into an error like this it seems
  • RodentRodent    7,025 posts
    What about all the punters on course? Didn't anyone shout something out over the fence?
  • thefalconthefalcon    19,949 posts

    good point Rodent but a large percentage of blame must lay with the stewards..how many of them would have watched the horses parade?

    the lenient fine possibly reflects their contrition.

    talk about blind mice......

  • FastmoneyFastmoney    4,912 posts
    Rodent said:

    What about all the punters on course? Didn't anyone shout something out over the fence?

    Not too many informed punters on course these days.
  • RIORIO    14,882 posts
    Fastmoney said:

    Rodent said:

    What about all the punters on course? Didn't anyone shout something out over the fence?

    Not too many informed punters on course these days.
    And if they shouted over the fence, they stand a good chance of being escorted off the premises...Its not tolerated anymore..

    thefalcon likes this post.

  • loose_gooseloose_goose    2,069 posts
    I would like to know where the Trainer was when the horse was been saddled, the buck stops with him

    In saying that incompotent job done by gear staff of RWWA (or is it PR) on the day
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    ^^And that's why he was charged , pleaded guilty and fined it was his responsibility. However the checks and balances rest with - as described in the stewards report.. ' gear checks conducted by officials' . Only opinion but think the buck stops with them.
  • GrayGray    4,090 posts

    I would like to know where the Trainer was when the horse was been saddled, the buck stops with him


    In saying that incompotent job done by gear staff of RWWA (or is it PR) on the day
    he was being interviewed to Adam Magrath 
  • careycarey    6,368 posts
    the trainer has stuffed up, but the ultimate responsibility is with the RWWA gear checker.
    but we already know about the long long long long long long history of RWWA never owning their own stuff ups.

  • thefalconthefalcon    19,949 posts
    ^^ you hit the nail on the head, carey.
  • spinkingspinking    3,739 posts
    Riders you by any chance watch the movie shooter on fox last night and if you did you would realise why I ask ( checkes&balances)
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    Haha No Spinking just coincidence. Did watch a movie though..got an old one out from the cobwebs called The Sting ( Newman & Redford at there ultimate best ). Any young punter who hasn't seen it or heard of it ( heaven forbid ) I recommend immensely. Movies as good as it never get outdated.

    spinking, thefalcon likes this post.

  • The_Real_PetermanThe_Real_Peterman    192 posts
    I remember hearing of horses in the UK/Ireland being barred from competing as punishment for performing below par i.e being given 'barrier trials' in races. I think it was even Aiden O'Brian's horse, too. Maybe bar the Wolfe stable from racing for a week and I'd bet it never happens again.
  • spinkingspinking    3,739 posts
    Riders taking this post miles off track here but vaguely remember going to the drive ins with the oldies years ago and watching the sting and for some reason a movie called paper moon might have been on the same night might be miles off but associate those movies for some reason
  • ThumperThumper    820 posts
    Off subject but it's only a $50 fine for forgetting the silks. Make it a 5k fine or scratch the horse and see how many trainers forget the silks.

    spinking likes this post.

  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    edited May 2017
    That would be correct Spinking think The Sting and Paper Moon came out the same year. Funny movie that Paper Moon - Tatum O'Neal and her real life dad were a couple of con artists. Later she married John McEnroe.
  • Ridersonthestorm33Ridersonthestorm33    10,809 posts
    Too true Thumper those types of fines certainly cured me from going over the speed limit.

    RIO likes this post.

  • runyonrunyon    569 posts
    Didn't the stewards let the wrong horse run in a race at Kal a few years back. I reckon it's being a bit optimistic thinking they'll pick up a set of blinkers missing if a whole horse can get past them.

    RIO likes this post.

  • spinkingspinking    3,739 posts

    Your correct Runyon by memory it was one of P. Smythes when possibly S.J.Miller may have been in charge

Sign In or Register to comment.