When is a dead heat, not a dead heat ?

Diamond Geezer

Diamond Geezer

Gone But Not Forgotten
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May 2, 2003
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A race called as a dead-heat five days ago at Kempton Park between Extra Noble and Fire Fighting has been awarded to Extra Noble. The BHA says it is "conducting an internal investigation into why judge David Smith originally declared the result a dead heat"

David Smith has a reputation for calling a result really quickly, I reckon his reputation has made him think he's beyond criticism but there's been a couple of other iffy results later for which the BHA don't appear to be able to supply a copy of the photo.

As a result of the revised placings, Extra Noble is no longer a maiden, but Fire Fighting now reverts to maiden status.

Prize money had not yet been distributed from this race and will now be distributed in line with the revised placings.
 
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A very long thread on the betfair forum about this, ever since the race, apparently he called it in a little over 30 seconds!
 
Diamond Geezer said:
A race called as a dead-heat five days ago at Kempton Park between Extra Noble and Fire Fighting has been awarded to Extra Noble. The BHA says it is "conducting an internal investigation into why judge David Smith originally declared the result a dead heat"

David Smith has a reputation for calling a result really quickly, I reckon his reputation has made him think he's beyond criticism but there's been a couple of other iffy results later for which the BHA don't appear to be able to supply a copy of the photo.
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Smith clearly in sh*t over this, but an initial (and ill-advised) statement from the BHA Press Office that the dead-heat was called correctly also means he's not the one with questions to answer. A can of worms.

I've asked the BHA to look at 2 other "Dave Smith Specials", but doubt whether I'll get any joy. Watch the 8:10 and 8:40 at Windsor on May 20th and work out who you think has won before looking at the official result. I defy you you not to be bamboozled!
 
del boy said:
What about bets placed? I backed the now winner. Paid out as a dead heat after the race.
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"Sky Bet, Stan James and William Hill are paying out in full on all single bets on Extra Noble after he was declared the winner of the £200 Free Bets At Betdaq Maiden Stakes at Kempton Park on June 26."

Sporting Life.
 
It happens in Ireland too. The first horse I put up on the "Will Win" thread was not beaten after the trainer saw the photo.
 
No need to guess who didn`t pay ,our friend Victor, he closed my account three years ago so not a problem for me
 
I'm all for giving credit where it's due, and hats off to those that have paid out in full on the 'winner', but not sure criticising those that have only paid out on the official 'weighed in' result is necessarily fair.
 
rorydelargy said:
Smith clearly in sh*t over this, but an initial (and ill-advised) statement from the BHA Press Office that the dead-heat was called correctly also means he's not the one with questions to answer. A can of worms.

I've asked the BHA to look at 2 other "Dave Smith Specials", but doubt whether I'll get any joy. Watch the 8:10 and 8:40 at Windsor on May 20th and work out who you think has won before looking at the official result. I defy you you not to be bamboozled!
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accepted the challenge.

Wouldnt have staked my life on the first one given how the "winner" ducked a little, but would have called the near side as the winner.
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...dsor/result/561193/coral-co-uk-handicap/video


The second one is a shocker. Inexcusable.
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/...oral-mobile-from-the-app-store-handicap/video

Watched the Kempton one live - was willing Johnson's one back up given how he raced, didnt think he got there, but it was ahead a stride after the post so didnt ring bells, despite the quick turnaround. The second one you mentioned was more shocking.

He had one job to do.
 
Considering how many chances they gave Jane Stickels this strikes me as rather harsh - I trust it is not macho Australian management .
 
Many years ago there were two or so photo finishes called incorrectly at Mallow.
One involved Anaglogs Daughter before the Durkans bought her; either she dead heated and was called as 2nd or won and it was called a dead heat.
As bets were settled on the day it was too bad for punters.
When racing In France according to "THE WAYWARD Lad" by G Bradley, they were advised to check the photo finish print carefully as "mistakes happen when foreign horses are concerned !"
 
Jane Stickels was just incompetent: Dave Smith tripped over his own ego, and was lucky to survive as long as he did.
 
The BHA would have a field day in the SW p2p field where there has been at least three or four slightly iffy decisions this season (though they don't have the use of photo finish equipment).

That said I think Dave Smith may have been on duty in a p2p at Dromahane a couple of years back - the result was a DH between Western King and Shake The Bucket, I haven't seen the still of the photo but from the video footage I'd suggest that the latter won by at least a neck.

Martin
 
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Retraining???

Look at the photo carefully before calling the results.

Thus ends the re-training session.
 
The photo finish which was called a dead heat :confused:

deadheat_zps33835195.jpg
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