GOODWOOD TO FACE DISCIPLINARY PANEL ENQUIRY OVER CELEBRATION MILE

Published: Tuesday 10 Oct 2006

The Goodwood Racecourse Executive have been informed that they face a Disciplinary Panel enquiry into whether or not they have committed a breach of Rule 80(ii)(a) of the Rules of Racing in the light of Rule 80(ii)(b) and Instruction J12 headed “Parades” in that Seamus Buckley, Clerk of the Course, failed to ensure that a parade took place prior to the totesport Celebration Mile at Goodwood on 27th August in accordance with requirements of the conditions of the race. The conditions of the race stated that: “There will be a Parade for this race. Runners will be assembled in racecard order and will be released at approximately 20 second intervals to canter to the start.”

As Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of GEORGE WASHINGTON (IRE), had been given permission by the Stewards for the colt to parade and go to post first, the horses should have left the parade ring and paraded in the order: numbers 3,1,2,4,5 & 6. However, Buckley, without any reference to the Stewards, instructed that the horses should be allowed to leave the parade ring and parade in any order.

A provisional date for the enquiry has been set for 19th October.

10th October 2006

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

1. Rules 80 (ii) (a) and (b) states that the Managing Executive of racecourses are to comply with the Rules, Orders, Instructions and General Instructions and that Managing Executives are responsible for ensuring that all their employees comply with their obligations under the Rules.

2. Instruction J12 sets out the provisions for parades and the races for which parades must or may be held. A parade was not mandatory for this Group 2 contest, but was requested by the racecourse and was therefore put in the conditions of the race.

3. The Penalty Range for a Breach of Rule 80 (ii) (a) is £1,000 to £15,000 with an Entry Point of £2,500.