The question of Visibility!

Just watching the racing at Lingfield and can't help compare the conditions with the two times racing has been abandoned in SA,on the grounds of poor visibility,in the last few months!

True Rob at times you can only see as they enter the last 50 Mt however the jocks can all see during the race although no good for viewing but no reason to call of a meeting

Dave Scott wrote: True Rob at times you can only see as they enter the last 50 Mt however the jocks can all see during the race although no good for viewing but no reason to call of a meeting

Yes , Dave and both times we abandoned the view of the cameras was perfect so hard to understand unless it was the goggles getting covered in mud!

Yeah Rob have to agree with you. I'm sure you also remember Rhys van Wyk and a few jocks getting a meeting called off in Bloemfontein cause the grass was too long!!! True story

Have you seen the lads after a jump race in the mud you can't even see the colours of the silks unless they have led the entire race lol

Do you bet without being able to watch?

If they race in bad visibility the stipes won't be able to see any hankie pankies.

But I am sure there was something more recent.

The history of the Grand National is full of strange tales but one of the strangest stories is that of the 1947 winner ‘Caughoo’. Jockey Daniel McCann who was well beaten on ‘Lough Conn’ accused winning jockey Eddie Dempsey of hiding ‘Caughoo’ in the thick fog that had descended over the Aintree course on the day of the race. However, photographic evidence showed that ‘Caughoo’ had completed the full course.

www.grand-national.me.uk/3054/foggy-recollections/

Sod's law Rob


PUNTERS and bookmakers were left frustrated at Lingfield on Wednesday when a photo finish was amended after the judge had called the wrong placings but the result was left as it was originally declared for betting purposes.

The fog that obscured much of the earlier races at Lingfield had all but cleared by the 2.55pm contest, but confusion still reigned as the result was amended after the wrong horse was incorrectly placed third in a tight photo finish.

Judge Graham Ford initially called the Michael Bell-trained Elementary (20-1) in third, a nose in front of Sun Angel (7-1), in the 7f nursery won by Vatican Hill. However, replays showed the pair had finished the other way around and an inquiry was held following the day's final race after Ford informed the stewards he wished to correct the result.

Shortly after 4pm, an announcement was made on course that the placings had been reversed, but for betting purposes the result stands as originally called because the riders had all weighed in.

Stipendiary steward Sam Angell said: "Graham came forward and said he would like to reconsider his decision on the seventh race and after the stewards viewed the print the placings were revised to place Sun Angel third and Elementary fourth.

"But for betting purposes the original result stands as the weighed-in signal had been given."

The stewards will forward a report on the incident to the BHA in London.

Bookmaker reaction

With the result official, bookmakers paid out on the each-way portion of bets on Elementary and are under no obligation to do the same for backers of Sun Angel, despite the mix up.

However, Paddy Power, William Hill, Betfair and Sky Bet confirmed they would be paying out on both results, despite some expressing frustration about doing so.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "We're delighted to be paying out each-way on Sun Angel and wonder whether the judge had a few too many sherries at lunch!"

William Hill's Jon Ivan-Duke was less impressed and called on officials to cover the cost of the increased pay-out.

"Punters shouldn't have to suffer so we'll pay out on 'both' results on this occasion, but the BHA should refund bookmakers for every error of this nature," he said.

"It is entirely the fault of the judge, so why should bookmakers bear the brunt of another sorry saga from British horseracing? Unfortunately, trust in the governing body is at an all-time low and that confidence needs to be restored as a matter of urgency."

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr also confirmed that bets settled on the exchange at the weighed in result will not be amended.

In spite of all that, the jockeys rode - ours seem to protest if they can't see the horizon....lol