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Letter of the Week

Off lightly

Damian Lane receives what equates to a 10 meeting suspension after being found guilty of a careless-riding charge, aboard Mer de Glace in the Caulfield Cup, stewards taking into account his guilty plea and good record. 
We fast forward to the Schweppes Tristarc Stakes and he gets done for an identical careless-riding charge aboard Aristia, with the stewards handing out another 10-meeting penalty after again taking into account his guilty plea and good record.
Now in both cases Blind Freddy could see he was guilty, which to my mind diminishes the value of that plea, and surely the question of his good record is on shaky ground after a second and identical transgression at the same meeting. 
What do the stewards then do? Give him what is tantamount to a slap on the wrist and allow him to serve his sentences concurrently. Now that is looking after the interests and safety of his fellow riders.

Greg Gade
Ingle Farm (SA)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March