On face value the Australian Hurdle at Sandown was a thrilling jumps race at the highest order but for those attentive enough would have seen the jumpers didn’t go over all the hurdles.
Gingerboy and Arch Fire eyed each other coming into the straight and put on a great duel all the way down the straight however in doing so they did not go over the last hurdle as the racecourse crew dismantled the wing of the jump too early.
Punters called for a no race as they feel the eventual runner up Gingerboy and third place getter Earthbound were jumping better than winner Arch Fire at the time so the last hurdle which would have affected the outcome of the race however it was declared a race by stewards.
Interestingly as pointed out by @rightontrack on twitter the CEO of MRC Brodie Arnhold is a part owner in the winner.
Should the race have been declared a no race?
Fence missing a wing
Track manager Tim Bailey described as “embarrassing” the mistake by track staff in dismantling wing of last jump in Aust Hdle @G1X_RACING
— adrian dunn (@adriandunn2) May 28, 2016
Riders elected to bypass the last jump after a wing was mistakenly taken down early by track workers. Presented a safety issue
— Brad Bishop (@bradbishop12) May 28, 2016
Correct weight has been declared by @RVStewards for the last race after a crew error saw a hurdle dismantled too early in race one
— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) May 28, 2016
