You couldn't make this sh*t up

Diamond Geezer

Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
May 2, 2003
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13,884
Start of 12.55 race delayed at Haydock as officials and jockeys all go to the wrong start, necessitating a flag start at the proper start. Wonder what BHA will make of this
 
Had to laugh at the starter after he let them go. Walking across the course shrugging his shoulders at someone.
 
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Today's starter Hugh Barclay was the one involved in the starting chaos at last year's Grand National and whose subsequent appearance at the enquiry was described as thus

"The BHA case was badly undermined by the first witness, the Grand National starter, Hugh Barclay, who did not impress. He could not offer an outline description of the rules on starting, could not remember when he had last read them, could not identify from footage a mown strip across the course which he insisted had been there, could not identify marker poles, admitted he had not known whether a required pre-race warning to jockeys had been given by his assistant, did not use available radios to communicate with the four other members of his team and “didn’t pay much attention” to a presentation to jockeys that touched upon starting procedures."
 
Start of 12.55 race delayed at Haydock as officials and jockeys all go to the wrong start, necessitating a flag start at the proper start. Wonder what BHA will make of this

Im sure the BHA will fine the course for the minimum £2000. These Xmas nights out don't pay for themselves.
 
Have Haydock got it wrong again ?

Samstown's time was 6m 36.70 for 3m1f Peter Marsh Chase according to RP,on going already heavy and rain still falling. Equates to roundabout 2m7f ?
 
Aye, they have.
The 3m hurdle and the 3m 1f chase were started from the identical spot (the 3m chase start), and though the chase course was on the outside yesterday, there's nobbut a few yards difference at either end of the course to separate them.
In accordance with the new BHA guidelines on measuring courses accurately, Kirkland Telwright must now be wetting the thumb he puts up in the air to gauge distances
 
Have Haydock got it wrong again ?

Samstown's time was 6m 36.70 for 3m1f Peter Marsh Chase according to RP,on going already heavy and rain still falling. Equates to roundabout 2m7f ?

My times suggest not although mine are based on the old standards which have Samstown 25.7s slow after allowing for the extra distance (rail movement) and fences omitted.

The old Standard Time for 3m was 3m58s, which extrapolates to 6m13s for 3m1f.

RP standards have the race 30.7s slow, so they have a faster Standard Time. It was a very unsatisfactory race, I reckon. The front two, especially the winner, couldn't go the pace and I suspect Samstown has merely plodded on past horses who had used up their energy early in a time 50lbs slower than Wakanda in the novices' race (allowing for adjustments for distance). I'm taking a low view and rating the race via Samstown having done no more than run to the previous mark I had for him.
 
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