Seven Horses Withdrawn After False Start at Newcastle

The final race on Newcastle's all-weather card Dec. 12 descended into farce after a false start resulted in seven of the 13 intended runners being withdrawn by the stewards as a restart was ordered.

As the horses lined up in the stalls for the five-furlong handicap, the Antony Brittain-trained favorite, Klopp, who had already been loaded in before backing out, was in the process of being reloaded when the starter let them go.

The jockeys faced a challenge pulling up their mounts, and seven horses were deemed to have already completed the course, therefore making them ineligible for the restarted race.

Klopp, the only horse not to go originally, comfortably won the restarted race at odds of 11-4, with a 25p rule 4 deduction ordered on all bets.

The 9-2 shot, Fair Alibi, was the most prominent in the market to be withdrawn, along with 10-1 Qaaraat, 14-1 Suwaan, 33-1 Debawtry, and longer-priced outsiders Jordan's Chris, Isabella Ruby, and Jessie Allan.

Winning jockey Harry Russell told Sky Sports Racing: "She didn't really go in the stall and came straight back out. The starter thought she had gone in and hit the button, and the rest of them have jumped.

"It's a shame and not the circumstances you want to win it, but it happened and we just have to move past it. I don't think I've had an easier winner in my career."

The British Horseracing Authority's official stewards' report stated: "An inquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding the false start of this race. The starters, the starting stalls team leader, the clerk of the course, the advanced flag operator, and all riders were interviewed and shown recordings. 

"Having heard their evidence, the stewards ordered a report to be forwarded to the head office of the British Horseracing Authority."

'When a Starter Says Go, Then You Go'

Tom Tate, the trainer of Fair Alibi, questioned whether the race could be declared void.

He told the Racing Post: "I might be wrong on this, but the starter released the horses that were stood in the stalls. He is the one in charge of the whole operation, so from that point the race has started.

"It's a highly unfortunate situation, but there is only one officer in charge, and that's the starter. He is the boss and should be obeyed. I might be wrong, of course, and not understand the finer details, and I am speaking from a biased trainer's perspective.

"I was a jockey for many years, and when a starter says go, then you go. If they void the race, that is up to them and brings up other issues, not least of which are the expenses for those participants who are affected."