Only in Ireland

The Stewards at The Curragh today were forced into a bizarre u-turn having suspended Ronan Whelan for three days for excessive use of his whip, despite the apprentice jockey dropping it leaving the stalls.

Whelan was riding Monivea for trainer Brian Nolan and his boss, Jim Bolger, took up his cause.

"History was made here today," said Bolger, "my apprentice got three days for excessive use of the whip. The problem is, he dropped his whip at the stalls."

By the end of racing, the stewards had reviewed their decision and following a second inquiry, apologised to Whelan and dropped their original three-day ban.

"R P Whelan informed the further inquiry that he had lost his whip at an early stage of this race, a fact that he had not revealed . . . prior to the first inquiry or to the acting stewards during the course of the first enquiry," said the Turf Club stewards report.

"Having considered the new evidence given the stewards were of the opinion that their original decision was in error and apologised. They accordingly set aside their earlier finding and penalty."

Took the a while to sober up -D

Yet if you call the stewards three blind mice you get threatened with everything from emasculation to excommunication. Now the latter would not trouble me at all, but the former is quite another matter.

They make out like the jock is an idiot for not informing them earlier that he had dropped his whip.
Then they 'considered the new evidence' and set aside their earlier finding. So, just what evidence did they base their original finding on?

Got to love the Irish,

www.dontpanicinc.com/insults.htm

www.dontpanicinc.com/ijokes.htm

very good Observer.....................<

Sabre he was waving his hands too vigorously,seen the replay...lol

will try and get a copy..