Wrong horse wins race in England

Darryl Sherer - Friday July 28

The wrong horse won a race at Yarmouth in England on Thursday at 50/1, defeating an odds-on favourite.

Mandarin Princess was declared the winner in the 2YO Novice Stakes over the 4/6 favourite Fyre Cay but was subsequently identified as the three-year-old stablemate Millie's Kiss which was supposed to run in a later race.

Both are trained at Newmarket by Charlie McBride who told the Racing Post he had made a mistake.

"It's a genuine mistake and humans make mistakes. It's an honest error and no-one stood to gain anything by it," McBride said.

"I took a young girl who has been with me for two or three months to the races. She's ridden both fillies and knows them both.

"After we checked them in we got some lunch and I sent her to get the two-year-old ready and I went to the weighing room to get the saddle.

"I like to weigh my horses out early but I had to wait over 20 minutes for the saddle. The filly was already out when I got back and as I was stressed and rushing I didn't look that closely - I just assumed it was the right horse."

The mistake was picked up at the post-race sampling unit and after correct weight had been declared.

An inquiry was called by the stewards, but no announcement regarding the result was made on course until nearly 45 minutes after the mistake had first been discovered and over two hours after the race had been run.

The racecourse stewards on the day have with no power to amend the result, which has been referred to the BHA.

The British Horseracing Authority issued a statement which read.

"The incident at Yarmouth has been referred to the BHA's head office in order that we can carry out an investigation, in accordance with our rules. Since we introduced the microchipping identification system an incident such as this is, as far as we are aware, unprecedented.

"The issue had not been established until after the result had been made official. After the weighed-in has been declared on the racecourse, the result cannot be amended by the stewards."

"The responsibility lies with the trainer to present and run the correct horse in the race. Having said that, and while we have not seen an incident of this nature in recent times, we will of course determine what steps need to be put in place to prevent it from happening again.

"We sympathise with the betting operators and betting public who have potentially been affected by this incident."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.