October
NovemberPainful memories
I read with interest the interview with trainer Paul Perry (16/11) and I too, like the majority of racing fans, cannot to this day come to terms with Choisir losing that race on protest on Derby day 2002.
And I’m still traumatised when I think back over another two stewards’ findings I was on the wrong end of.
Who can forget the 1998 Caulfield Cup and Taufan’s Melody, who caused massive interference to both Champagne and Jezabeel, both of whom were both lucky to stay on their feet. Jockey Roy Cochrane got a month but stewards let him retain the race. Even he admitted if it had happened back home he would have been relegated to last.
My one saving grace that year was that Jezabeel got her revenge in the Melbourne Cup, with Champagne second. Wonder if that fact registered with the stewards of the time.
Then there was the 2011 Railway Stakes. when the NZ horse He’s Remarkable lost the race on protest to local miler Luckygray, to the bafflement of most observers.
Yes, I enjoyed the article but it brought back some painful racing memories.
Ingle Farm (SA)