Safety concerns force Wexford to abandon after three races
The decision was made by the Stewards “in the interest of safety due to ground conditions” following incidents in which Sandpit House (rider Paddy Kennedy broke a wrist) and Dark Arctic each broke a leg and had to be put down. The inevitable ruling by the Stewards followed a lengthy inspection of the track by Stewards, officials, trainers and jockeys.
Clerk of the Course Paddy Graffin subsequently explained the situation, pointing to remedial work carried out on the track about six weeks ago and recent watering, plus the arrival of rain in recent days as the likely cause of the problems.
Inspector Of Courses Val O’Connell inspected and passed the track fir for racing after the work was completed. Graffin explained yesterday that he had no knowledge of the work until he arrived at the track before Saturday’s meeting.
Some of the jockeys who rode in the first chase on Saturday’s card expressed concerns about the ground in front of the last fence, explaining that there was “something wrong” . That prompted a decision by Graffin to move the entire chase track and re-site the last fence.
And while the remainder of Saturday’s meeting went off without incident, Sandpit House broke a leg and slipped up on the approach to the straight in yesterday’s opener while Dark Arctic broke a leg and had to be pulled up before the final flight in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
In his comments, Graffin described parts of the track as resembling a “minefield”, explaining that although the track “walked perfectly normal on the surface” when walked by concerned personnel, the threat of injuries to both horses and riders was significant when horses pounded around the track, particularly on the downhill run from the half-mile pole.
Following the two incidents, Graffin informed the Stewards that he “couldn’t stand over” the condition of the track and, in such circumstances, the decision to abandon was inevitable. Management of the Wexford track now face the dilemma of whether the track will be fit for racing for its final meeting of 2010, on November 27.
Although disappointed by the early end of proceedings, favourite-backers were cheered by the success of Strain Of Fame and Fully Funded in the opening maiden hurdles.
Ruby Walsh, back from a one-day ban on Saturday, partnered the well-backed Strain Of Fame (9/4 to 7/4) to an ultimately hard-earned head victory over Park Ranger in the opening New Ross Maiden Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, owned by Tim Naughton, Chairman of the Galway race Committee, travelled well before edging ahead at the second last, but needed Walsh’s strength to see him home.
Mullins said: “He was bought to be a west of Ireland horse, but I thought the track here would suit him better. He was entitled to win, although I was very disappointed with his run in the Lartigue in Listowel last time.
“He’s a good ground horse and is getting to know how to settle in his races. He came off the flat in England and used to be very free. He’s not very big and we’ll stick to handicapping with him.”
Noel Meade and Davy Condon, successful with Fisher Bridge on Saturday, followed-up when Fully Funded recouped Listowel losses in the Enniscorthy Maiden Hurdle, proving too strong for longshot Couleur De La Loi in the closing stages.
Meade was represented by his brother Ben who commented: “He was a bit disappointing over three miles in Listowel,. But Davy said he had plenty left today and will stay further.”
No joy for punters in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle which saw Sainte Kadette, owned and trained by Seamus O’Farrell give Donal MacAuley a welcome change of luck, the 10/1 shot getting the better of Stonehatchetmad by a neck after a protracted tussle.
