Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board issues unreserved apology over errors at Naas
The Noel Meade-trained Melly And Me got loose for several minutes, before eventually being withdrawn. By Press Association Thursday 4 Feb 2021, 10:48 PM Feb 4th 2021, 10:48 PM 5,419 Views 3 Comments
File pic.
Image: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
THE IRISH Horseracing Regulatory Board has moved to “unreservedly apologise” to all parties affected by the controversial start to a race at Naas last weekend.
The 2020 ITBA Award Winners Handicap Hurdle was significantly delayed after the Noel Meade-trained Melly And Me got loose for several minutes, before eventually being withdrawn.
As the remaining runners walked in to face the starter, Shakeytry dived left and unseated jockey Phillip Enright badly hampering both Sean Says and, more notably, Aarons Da
Rarely will the beginning of a race have as much carnage as the Celebrating The 2020 ITBA Award Winners Handicap Hurdle at Naas today where a loose horse caused a 13-minute delay before a shambolic false start then left punters furious.
The race (set to start at 2.45), which had already been put back five minutes after a request by broadcasters, didn’t commence until 3.03 after the Noel Meade-trained Melly And Me unseated Sean Flanagan before the start and proceeded to run loose.
The eight-year-old evaded a host of pursuers before eventually being caught, but the drama was only commencing at the Kildare track with Edward O Grady s Shakeytry diving right and unseating Philip Enright before the start.
Big controversy at Naas as Ruby Walsh slams shambolic start to race
A stewards enquiry into the start of the race was later called, but there were no changes to the result.
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Punters were irate after what Ruby Walsh called a shambolic start to a handicap hurdle at Naas today.