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MEDIA RELEASE
17 July 2008
No race at Rockhampton – Thursday 17 July 2008
Unfortunate circumstances led to Race 2 at today’s Rockhampton Jockey Club meeting being declared void as a result of the race being conducted over the incorrect distance.
Following the conclusion of the event it was brought to the attention of the Stewards that the race had been conducted over approximately 1400 metres, when the advertised distance of the race was 1300 metres.
After reviewing the evidence before them, Stewards took the appropriate decision to call the event a no-race.
Whilst it in no way exonerates any blame for this mistake, it is important to note that this event would normally have been conducted on the short track but following an extensive racing schedule in recent weeks the decision was taken last week to conduct all races at today’s meeting on the extended track.
This decision meant that the normal starting position for 1300 metre events at Callaghan Park was not utilised and the barriers were required to be brought forward from the normal position.
Queensland Racing Chairman, Mr Bob Bentley said: “Stewards have opened an inquiry into the reason race two was conducted over an incorrect distance and I have asked the Integrity Department for a full report on this issue as soon as possible.”
“Due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding this incident, Queensland Racing will reimburse the connections of each starter $250 and an additional $500 to those runners who have travelled extended distances to participate,” Mr Bentley said.
“I appreciate that this does not fully compensate the connections of those horses that were placed in today’s event, although it will assist in offsetting the costs associated with their participation.
“To my knowledge this is the first incident of this nature in Queensland in recent times and I have asked the Integrity Department of Queensland Racing to review raceday protocols to ensure this does not occur again.”
For further information please contact QRL’s Senior Communication Officer, Claire Power, on (07) 3869 9760.
QUEENSLAND Racing media release: July 17
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