Who Polices Racing's Police?

Mike and Mathew de Kock have praised Hollywoodbets for its gesture of goodwill in refunding all fixed-odds and open bets on De Kock Racing’s unplaced three-year-old Scots Wae Hae (Race 6, Hollywoodbets Scottsville, Sunday), giving his backers some sporting relief.

The Hollywood Racing-owned Scots Wae Hae, who shed his maiden over 1000m at his previous start, was well supported to start a 3-1 tote favourite in the Class 4 1200m contest, despite the stable’s reservations pre-race that his charge was stepping into a handicap off an 89 rating following his 1.30-length beating of Lenoxx, who was rated 80 after the race.

“This was an example of another thumb-suck rating we have to endure from the NHA every week. How does one explain a nine-point difference for a 1.30-length beating?” asked Mike de Kock, who noted in his pre-race report: “Proceed with some caution as week in and week out we see three-year-olds beaten by the handicapper”.

As it happened, backers of the progressive 3yo saw their hopes go up in smoke when the gates were sprung, as a restless Scots Wae Hae prematurely broke open his gate, which then bounced back on him as he appeared to sit back in his stall, thus losing lengths.

Jockey Gavin Lerena did not bustle the youngster thereafter, and he unsurprisingly finished some way downfield.

The screen shots below show what happened at the start. Scots Wae Hae is in stall number six, yellow silks:

After a race review was called, the Stipes were satisfied that Scots Wae Hae had not been impeded in any manner and that the subsequent loss of ground was due to the horse’s behaviour alone. He has not shown behavioural issues previously.

It is understood that Lerena, the starter, assistant trainers Michael Ndzilana and Jo Taylor, and Hollywood Racing’s Anthony Delpech were interviewed by the Stipes but nothing to that effect is included in the Stipes report.

The Stipes took no further action and declared Scots Wae Hae a runner.

Ironically, in the same race, Lucinda Woodruff’s runner Azzurri, in the gate alongside Scots Wae Hae reacted to his neighbour, and this resulted in the handler allocated to Azzurri being slow in releasing this gelding as the start was effected.

Azzurri jumped awkwardly with his head turned sideways and lost ground to the field.

The Board acting in terms of Rule 61.5.10.3 declared Azzurri to be a non-runner.

The two sides of the rule were shown clearly here!

If the horse is deemed to be the perpetrator, he remains a runner, while human intervention or interference, by way of, for example, the handler, could see him declared a non-runner.

While the rule, which has proven contentious in the past, may be worthy of a review, Hollywoodbets spokesman Devin Heffer advised the Sporting Post that the company holds the view that Scots Wae Hae’s supporters never had a fair shout or run for their money. Accordingly, the company had made the decision to refund bets.

“We are dealing with flesh and blood, and it is an unfortunate set of circumstances that arose here. While we respect the fact that the Stipes are applying the letter of the rule, we want every punter to have a fair run for their money,” added Heffer.

Refunds have already been implemented for all online bets.

Mike commented: “When Scots Wae Hae forced his gate open, a false start should have been declared. Gavin Lerena hesitated, thinking it was a false start – as did a few others – and punters did not get a fair run for their money. But it must be said that if Scots Wae had won the race, he would have been declared a non-runner!”

He added: “It is great to see what Race Coast and 4Racing have done, and are doing, to improve the racing experience, attract punters and grow confidence in the industry. Scots Wae Hae’s supporters did not get a fair run for their money, and their bets were refunded.

“However, while good things are happening, it is my view that the National Horseracing Authority continues to erode confidence with questionable Stipes’ decisions and a series of glaring handicapping errors over the past few years. These include the ratings of all three-year-old colts from last season’s classics, including Tin Pan Alley, and the insanity of rating Hazy Dazy the equal of Wish List.

“We can also go back to the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons and the incorrect ratings of horses like Parisian Walkway and Green With Envy, which effectively ruined his chances in the Durban July.

“The NHA’s response to having the handicapper’s ineptitude exposed has been to shut down transparency around the ratings of horses for stakes races. This seems to be the default reaction whenever matters involving NHA officials come under scrutiny.

“One of their handicapping appeal boards also included a family member of the handicapper and a press mouthpiece - an attempt to sway decisions in their favour. In any other business in the world, this would not be tolerated.

“On top of that, the NHA’s handling of several major issues has been shambolic. These include the fiasco involving the Tony Peter stable on Betway Summer Cup Day in 2023, for which the NHA has still not provided answers almost three years later, despite hiring celebrity investigator Paul O’Sullivan at God knows what cost to the industry. Is this not bringing racing into disrepute?

“Central to all of this is a question we have asked the industry before and will now ask again: ‘Who polices racing’s police?’ Trainers and jockeys pay dearly on a regular basis, but is there ever any introspection or accountability for officials of the NHA?”