Frustrated at every turn
In a rare occurrence, I find myself agreeing with Richie Callander in his article “Gripe, but don’t blame stipes” (28/2).
I can’t agree with the managing part-owner of Of the Brave that the owners and punters would have been penalised if the horse had had to be transferred to another trainer (as per the rules of racing) three days before the Blue Diamond if they had not secured a stay of proceedings from VCAT.
The majority of work to get this horse ready for the race had already been done.
Any competent trainer out there that hasn’t been found guilty of a serious offence would have been able to follow instructions to put the horse through its final paces and throw on a saddle on race day.
My fury is not directed at stewards, the owners or even the trainer, but rather, a system that is in place that appears to circumvent at every turn the good work stewards are doing in trying to clean up the industry.
Brunswick (Vic)