KZN Starter blooper thread

oops

wow... that was close

Not sure how close to a void race? Sure it can be argued that its close to interference

STARTER SURE WAS TRIGGER HAPPY THERE...... & the winner was in the LAST GATE ...nearly made contact...... in a GR2 race !!!!

I saw that. I have often wondered that there will be an accident soon. What are the controls?

A few years back at the Vaal, a handler was in front of the gates when they opened and he got bowled over. Thankfully he was unharmed. It didn't even get into the stipes report.

The National Horseracing Authority Racing Control Executive Arnold Hyde has provided the Sporting Post with a report from the KZN Stipendiary Board on the circumstances which led to the gates of the runners in the Gr2 WSB 1900 opening a fraction early and a Handler narrowly escaping injury.


We reported the issue of how a Handler crawled out of the front of the stalls in Saturday’s feature and narrowly missed being run over by the eventual winner, Elusive Silva.

The matter was referred by the Sporting Post to NHA Racing Control Executive Arnold Hyde, who has acknowledged that it should have formed part of the original Stipes Report.
The KZN Stipes responded as follows for the record:

With reference to the start of the 6th Race at Greyville on 19 May 2018 the following has been established.

The Assistant Starter started this race.

We had two bad horses in the field both graded to be loaded with hoods.

THE SLADE is an exception to the starting stall loading procedures and Malan Du Toit, the horse whisperer, assists at the start whenever this horse runs as he is that problematic.

The horse in stall 11 was graded to stand equipped with a hood in the stalls. This was removed as the Handler in question was coming out the stalls having loaded the volatile THE SLADE. The removal of the hood was, in hindsight probably a little premature. This was coupled with the one horse, which required a very quick start to avoid a potential problem.

It is apparent that the Assistant Starter has mistimed effecting the start and misjudged the Handler having sufficient opportunity to have enough clearance from the front of the starting stalls. He was of the view that in real time he believed the Handler was clear hence him starting the race.

The Assistant Starter was advised to ensure that in future he allows sufficient time to ensure that the Handlers are fully clear before effecting the start.

Although it is easy to criticise when looking head on to the start as opposed to the acute angle the starter is positioned at, when reviewing the start in slow motion from the head on angle it is apparent that the Handler has not comfortably cleared the vicinity of the starting stalls.

After reviewing this incident of the start of this race and considering the possible effect it had on the horses at the start, the Stipendiary Stewards were of the opinion that no horses had been materially affected by the incident.

So who's 'teaching' the assistant starter,that incompetent fellow they call the starter in Natal.The bloke who's managed numerous cockups with regards to starts in Natal races in the last fews year.

I'm glad he was of the view that it was fine to start the race,it wouldn't be so nice if he did it knowing the handler was still in front of the stalls :silly: :blink: :blush: :woohoo:

Hey,nobody has died yet,so it's all fine for now.

in my view the handler, through no fault of his, lost precious seconds by getting in an awkward position that then required him to correct before exiting from under the stalls
That was only visible from infront

Very very surprised no one mentioned the starting stall fiasco before the Allan Robertson! The stalls were positioned at an angle - this would have thrown the horses at the rail. Took them forever to re position, after jocks noticed and told them.

From Stipes”The start of this Race was delayed due to a difficulty in the positioning of the two banks of starting
stalls at the 1200 metre mark.”

Bob Brogan wrote: Very very surprised no one mentioned the starting stall fiasco before the Allan Robertson! The stalls were positioned at an angle - this would have thrown the horses at the rail. Took them forever to re position, after jocks noticed and told them.

From Stipes”The start of this Race was delayed due to a difficulty in the positioning of the two banks of starting
stalls at the 1200 metre mark.”

SA horse racing has a huge problem,it is staffed by people with 'jobs for life',no matter their level of competence.It is exactly the opposite of how the modern world operates.

Everyone makes mistakes,but this bloke clearly lives in a comatose state.Someone is going to get very badly hurt because of this at some point,but clearly that is of no concern to the operators.

As Pirates stated on another thread yesterday,there are plenty of people who have been worn down to the point of giving up on this industry.

You can lead a horse to water,but you can't make it drink...

Must agree with you mate..its such a pity..how many family members work for the operator or associated companies..and its a listed company.