THE RULES OF BRITISH HORSERACING TO DATE DECEMBER 31st 2010

THE BRITISH RULES OF HORSERACING AS IN ALL SPORT ARE PARAMOUNT TO ENSURE FAIR PLAY. IN HORSERACING THE RULES NEED TO INCLUDE THE HORSES RIGHTS AND

NEEDS AS WELL. THEREFORE ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN POSITION TO ACT UPON ANY OF THESE RULES NEEDS TO HAVE ACHIEVED BLOODHORSE LITERACY THEMSELVES.. 

THE RULES OF BRITISH HORSERACING 31st DECEMBER 2010 AS APPLIED ON MAY 13th 2010 AT YORK IN THE DANTE INVOLVING CAPE BLANCO THE WINNER.

IT is neither fair or reasonable for bloodhorse illiterate personnel at the very top of British Horseracing to attempt to uphold the Rules of British Horseracing, or to alter or change these rules in any way. Only top proven true bloodhorse literate horsemen would be able to adjust these rules if and when needs be.


This CAPE BLANCO issue has given a stark warning reminder of how not to regulate British Horseracing, showing how easy it has been for the British Horseracing Authority to get things so dreadfully wrong, yet again. There are many people involved who have been badly and wrongly condemned by this unjust outcome. All caused originally by an overreach wound needing immediate First Aid treatment when CAPE BLANCO came in off the track after the race, not over two hours later. CAPE BLANCO does indeed have care rights and needs himself. A wrong decision given by BHA people who should know better, but don’t, this remains to be the scary bit.


Where do licensed trainers responsibilities begin, exist and end? Where do bloodhorse illiterate regulation BHA parties responsibilities begin, exist and end, is anyone allowed to know?

The many different points of view:
OWNERS POINT OF VIEW

CAPE BLANCO’S POINT OF VIEW

TRAINERS POINT OF VIEW

HANDLER/MINDER /PRESENTER’S POINT OF VIEW

JOCKEY’S POINT OF VIEW

RACECOURSE POINT OF VIEW

PUNTER’S POINT OF VIEW

PEOPLE ENJOYING A DAY OUT POINT OF VIEW

All are reliant upon the BHA translators getting it right by interpreting, transcribing and applying the rules in the right way, in practice.



RACING REVIEW FACTUAL REPORTING FROM GRAHAM GREEN FOR THE RACING POST

Graham Green reports for the Racing Post on Monday December 20th 2010 page 4 Headline “O’Brien awaits BHA disciplinary panel’s verdict on CAPE BLANCO.”


“A fortnight ago Ireland’s champion trainer pleaded guilty to ‘acting in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of horseracing in Great Britain “ in the wake of the colt’s win in the Dante Stakes at York in May.


“The admission was made after the wording of the charge was amended following discussion between the two parties, removing the suggestion that O’Brien had acted in a manner prejudicial to the good reputation of British horseracing. “

J Margaret Clarke report comment for Turfcall: Aiden O’Brien has never prejudiced the conduct of horseracing in Britain  or anywhere else, in his life, his skill, art and expertise ensures the complete opposite, he promotes British Horseracing world wide, he is a brilliantly talented true horseman, one of the very best that this world has ever seen. At York on May 13th O’Brien, Keating and his team of minders acting at York that day, were right to stand their ground over issues relating to the wellbeing of the injured CAPE BLANCO for whom they held direct responsible. The BHA parties on duty that day abused their positions, showing O'Brian and Keating no respect whatsoever.


Graham Green reports for the Racing Post Thursday December 23rd Headline: ‘O’Brien in entries ban threat and fined over Cape Blanco’.


“IRELAND’S multiple champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has been warned that restrictions will be imposed on him running horses in Britain if there is any repeat of the Cape Blanco controversy, for which he was hit with a £10,400 fine by the BHA disciplinary panel on December 22nd 2010.

J Margaret Clarke report comment for Turfcall: Poor misleading standards within the British Horseracing Authority both in theory and in practice. None of this an issue in the first place. O’Brien and his team got on with what needed to be done to tend the wound for CAPE BLANCO, to make him comfortable and ready for his flight home. O’Brien and his team managed to secure the safe keeping of CAPE BLANCO reliant upon their care. The BHA ‘S complete lack of understanding, verging on cruelty.

WHO EXACTLY ARE THESE BHA PEOPLE JUDGING AND CONDEMNING THE BLOODHORSE LITERATE?

i. We have been given all the names of the bloodhorse literate horsemen involved and trusted with CAPE BLANCO’S safety, his journey over from Ireland, his safe arrival at York racecourse, his preparation for this race, his brilliance in winning this race. His First Aid needs after this race. The problems encountered with the BHA parties forcefully interfering, dictating and barging in effectively denying CAPE BLANCO’S immediate First Aid needs

ii.The BHA parties involved that day in May need now to apologise publically to O’Brien, also to the owners of CAPE BLANCO and refund the £10,400.00 to O’Brien.

iii. The BHA threat to O’Brien needs to be publically apologised for, and sooner rather than later.

iv. There needs to be a total and complete update way forward on the Bloodhorse Literate Front of British Horseracing. A major overhaul needed at the dangerous, grass root sharp end, the heartbeat of  British Horseracing,  to be separated out from all commercial stuff. But holding the power in case the commercial side wander off in the wrong direction as is happening now.

v. On the Learner/Student Front to create a fair and reasonable career structure with wage insentives to match achievements, for the young ones who hope to make a career in horseracing. .

vi. New wage structures to be developed, starting first with the present position regarding all senior professional handler riders and work riders. To financially reward professional achievement at this top level of Bloodhorse Literacy. To put a stop to any and all exploitation. To highlight the true value and worth of such handler riders. To show that trainers really do need Grade A handler riders, they cannot train the horses sent to them by owners without them . There can never be any cheap alternatives, or cheap options in this department.

Total revamp of all the following BHA departments to bring them all into

'Bloodhorse Literate Zones'.

Licensing Department for all BHA regulation personnel
Licensing Department for all BHA disiplinary personnel
Licensing Department for all BHA legal  personnel
Licensing Department for all BHA Weatherbys personnel
Licensing Department for all BHA Racecourse Maintenance, Stewarding and Starter personnel
Licensing Department for all BHA Veterinary personnel.
Licensing Department for all BHA Racecourse Doctors and Medical First Aid for both horses and riders
Licensing Department for all professional trainers
Licensing Department for all professional trainers team personnel
Licensing Department for all professional Handler Riders who have achieved Grade A status 
Licensing Department for all professional Work Riders
Licensing Department to develop Bloodhorse Literate Career Structures of skills to ensure that the young ones get a fair start, and a clear path of the direction along the way to achieving Grade A status.
Licensing Department to develop fair financial reward for all Bloodhorse Literate Handler Rider Career Structures of Skill.

The Government, Racecourses, Racecourses picture rights and the Bookmakers to put up the money between them to establish all the above Bloodhorse Literate Zones, due to the fact that they have over decades refused to recognize Bloodhorse Literacy, refused to recognise the pay structures for such skills achieved, refused to recognise Bloodhorse Literacy at all. Instead they have all chosen to practically bleed the sports workforce dry financially ongoing over decades. Now is the time for them all to make amends.

END

BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY FINE AIDAN O'BRIEN £10,400.00 THREATENING WORSE FOR CARING FOR CAPE BLANCO PROPERLY.

TRUE CARE SHINES OUT OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH

FOR ALL TO SEE

RACING REVIEW COMMENT REPORT BY J MARGARET CLARKE FOR TURFCALL

.YORK MAY 13th 2010 the 2.40 DANTE STAKES. Five ran.

WINNER CAPE BLANCO 3-9-0 partner JOHNNY MURTAGH. handler presenter MARTIN DEEGAN trainer Aidan O’Brien owners D Smith, Mrs J Magnier and M Tabor.9-2

Winners prize money £ 85,155.00

AIDAN O’BRIEN (IRE): A top professional bloodhorse literate licensed racehorse trainer of the highest calibre, highly respected of world renown, a top proven professional horseman active and successful on the world stage. A horseman that has not achieved this status by mistake or by accident. A highly intelligent man, a caring man, a man who most certainly does understand what the word CARE does actually mean in both PRACTICE and in THEORY. A man who could most probably have reached the top in any career that he chose.



It could be said that O’Brien’s working practices are second to none. That his ‘Points Of View’ are second to none That he has given to the world of horseracing throughout his lifetime to date, huge prestige, achieving world wide trust as a person who’s horses attract immediate respect wherever and whenever they are entered up to run. Yet we now hear that he, this Christmas week, has been fined £10,400 (Ten thousand four hundred pounds) and condemned unjustly by unnamed British Horseracing Authority parties whose flawed ‘Points Of View’ won the day unreasonably and unfairly over an incident that happened on May 13th 2010 in the 2.40 Dante Stakes over seven months ago.



Who are funding the BHA? How has such a simple matter requiring immediate First Aid attention and soothing healing treatment, been allowed to be dragged out over all this time at huge cost in both time and money, and involving so many innocent parties unjustly, including CAPE BLANCO.



The very last thing that one would expect to happen is that these BHA parties would take over seven months to close this issue, culminating in fining O’Brien £10,400 with a suspicious further threat thrown in. What a disgusting way to treat someone who gives so much to racing each and every day of his life.



Clearly these BHA parties have absolutely no idea of the work load applicable to a trainer and his team to get too and fro to racecourses with runners, travelling their horses from home, then competing, and after back home again after racing.



BHA WRONG DECISIONS: The wrong reading of CAPE BLANCO’S injury sustained in winning the Dante. The wrong dictate by top unnamed stewards on duty this day at York.



The unforeseen problems that can and are so often caused by regulation, disciplinary, legal and veterinary personnel acting at the very highest level within the BHA, those who are in fact ‘Bloodhorse Illiterate’ and have absolutely no rights to act professionally in this capacity at all.



THE RACING POST REPORTERS:

HEADLINES RACING POST THURSDAY MAY 13th 2010 TOTESPORT DANTE STAKES:

Preview of today’s big TV clash.

GREHAM DENCH: FORCE to be reckoned with? It’s a Dante that really promises to deliver, boasting four leading Derby candidates including, Sir Michael Stoute’s WORKFORCE second favourite for (The Derby Epsom) and the colt who’s got the whole world of Newmarket abuzz.

“Judgement day for Stoute’s untested star WORKFORCE. HIS reappearance has had to be put back twice this spring, but today we at last have the opportunity to judge for ourselves how much substance there is to the expectation that has propelled maiden winner WORKFORCE to such heady heights in the Investic Derby market. ....”

KEY STAT: Sir Michael Stoute (Workforce) has won the Dante three times in the past ten years from just nine runners for a profit of £12.25 to £1 level stakes.



VIEW FROM THE NEWMARKET GALLOPS REPORT FROM TONY ELVES.

“WORKFORCE’S mere presence today speaks volumes.

“IT WOULD BE EASIER to crack the Enigma code than work out Sir Michael Stoute’s thought patterns, but the fact that WORKFORCE lines up for the Dante says quite enough. .....”



TONY O’HEHIR “O’Brien’s speed machine ‘can be lazy’

“CAPE BLANCO FOUR days after MIDAS TOUCH ended a frustrating week of Classic trials for Ballydoyle by winning the Derrinstown Stud DerbyTrial Stakes at Leopardstown, Aiden O’Brien is on the trial of a fourth Dante victory as CAPE BLANCO bids to retain his unbeaten record in the Group 2 contest ......”



RACING POST FRIDAY MAY 14th 2010 HEADLINES “STRANGLEHOLD ON THE DERBY

GRAHAM DENCH REPORTS: “Dante winner CAPE BLANCO strengthens O’Brien’s iron grip on Epsom Classic – but Murtagh still can’t see further than favourite ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. Big-race report plus angry Aidan in blast at York officials.”

“CAPE BLANCO emerges as leading contender despite post-race soreness worry. AIDAN O’BRIEN’S stranglehold on the Investic Derby was completed yesterday when CAPE BLANCO ran away with the last major trial for the Epsom Classic, the totesport Dante Stakes .....”



JONATHAN MULLIN REPORTS: “O’BRIEN LABELS YORK VETS’ REQUEST ‘INSANE’...

“AIDAN O’BRIEN last night defended his decision not to allow CAPE BLANCO to be trotted in front of the York vets for a second time and labelled their request as “insane”.

“The Irish champion trainer was referred to the BHA for refusing to trot the Dante winner post-race and for non – appearance of his representatives before the York stewards as requested.

“Before the open day this week, CAPE BLANCO caught the back of his heel – he gave it a right belt – and in this race he did the same thing except harder,” said O’Brien. We all saw how sore he was coming back and that he was lame. The vets at York trotted him and everyone could see he was in discomfort. So we got him back down to the yard and got it iced and poulticed, and the lads got him comfortable and ready for home. And what happens next? The vets come down and say they want to see the horse trotting – not for CAPE BLANCO’S benefit, but for theirs. It’s the most insane thing I have ever heard. Why would you want to trot him again on a sore bruised heal and cause him more pain? So the lads called me and I said ‘no’– the horse comes first and under no circumstances was this horse allowed to trot. He tried his heart out for us and it is always our policy to put the horse first. They have seen him walk and they have examined his leg, and they have been happy with both.”

‘O.Brien’s representatives did not appear in front of the stewards as requested and the Ballydoyle trainer explained: ”With all this pantomime the lads were nearly going to miss the flight so they had to leave the course to make it and get CAPE BLANCO home. What were we to do-miss the flight because of it? Everybody knows the uncertainty with the volcanic ash - you have to make the flight when you can, because you can’t be sure about tomorrow. We’re sorry if we caused any controversy for anybody – our policy is: the welfare of the horse always comes first.”

‘O’Brien was referred to the BHA to the BHA under rule 83 which states: “Each person must comply with any instruction given by the stewards of a meeting..”

ALASTAIR DOWN REPORTS: “ABBEY CASTS BIG SHADOW OVER BLANCO’S SUPER SHOW. The Dante winner’s stablemate may still be the one as Flat racing holds out for a hero.. MOST three- and- a –quarter- length winners of the Dante would be hot to touch for Epsom, but like some ghosts of the Derby feast it was ST NICHOLAS ABBEY for who the money came in the aftermath of CAPE BLANCO’S victory yesterday. CAPE BLANCO is now unbeaten in four races but it was not his slight lameness as he was led away that was the main cloud on his horizon.” ” As Johnny Murtagh said:” He’s a tough colt, game and balanced. But if the ST NICHOLAS ABBEY who won the Racing Post turns up at Epsom they will all be playing for places .....”

THE DANTE 2010

Run on Thursday May 13th the 2.40 totesport Dante Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) run over 1m2f 88y. Winner £85,155. Open to three year olds colts, geldings and fillies.

This race is named after the 1945 Derby winner DANTE, has been run since 1958 and in that time nine winners have gone on to win the Derby.

111- CAPE BLANCO 3-9-0 ch c partner JOHNNY MURTAGH handler presenter MARTIN DEEGAN trainer Aiden O’Brien (IRE) for owners Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor breeder Jack Ronan and Des Vere Hunt Farms. 9-2

2nd WORKFORCE 2-1

3rd COORDINATED CUT 4-1

Can these present BHA parties ‘Points of View’ be trusted? Who are these people? What are their qualifications? Are they Bloodhorse Literate? Or are they Bloodhorse Illiterate? Or are they a miss mash of both ? Are their working practices to be trusted? Are their working practices good enough at this level? Or are they making shockingly dangerous decisions and bringing British Horseracing into disrepute themselves, upon the backs of others? Has this CAPE BLANCO issue received true justice, or not?

4.55 the time of last race. (So from 2.40 to 5.05 - over 2 hours later) these authorities decided that they wanted to see CAPE BLANCO TROTTED UP AGAIN. Licensed trainer Aidan O’Brien quite rightly refused to allow this, O’Brien is the licensed trainer he holds his rights to protect CAPE BLANCO, to protect his team, and to protect CAPE BLANCO’S owners.

 
 
ENDS
 

GRAHAM GREEN REPORTS FOR THE RACING POST THIS MORNING: "O'BRIEN IN ENTRIES BAN THREAT AND FINED OVER CAPE BLANCO.

WHY DO THE BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY FINE LICENSED TRAINER AIDEN O’BRIEN £10,400 FOR CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES IN CARING FOR CAPE BLANCO WHEN HE NEEDED IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ATTENTION TO AN OLD WOUND HE AGRIVATED IN RUNNING TO WIN,  PULLING UP AFTER LAME AND IN PAIN?

BRITISH HORSERACING AUTHORITY TO LAZY TO ACT IN EMERGENCIES

WHAT WOULD CAPE BLANCO'S OWNERS HAVE SAID IF O'BRIEN AND HIS TEAM HAD NOT ACTED SO QUICKLY TO AID CAPE BLANCO'S INJURY?
These British horseracing parties state the following on their website, the whole lot a totally dishonest statement. May look impressive in theory. But the sad facts as this issue shows in practice, is totally untrue. 

British Racing’s Commitment to the Welfare of Racehorses
Everyone in the sport - racecourses, trainers, owners, breeders, stable staff, jockeys,
owners, administrators, officials and veterinary professionals - is committed to and
has a role in ensuring and enhancing horse welfare.


The British Horseracing Authority is the governing body of the sport and, through the
Rules of Racing and its licensing and inspection of participants, education, training and monitoring, ensures horse welfare, including compliance with UK Animal Welfare legislation.


Some risk to horses is inherent in the sport, as it is to differing degrees in the life of a
horse in any environment, but we recognise our responsibility to care for our horses and reduce unnecessary risks.


Horseracing has close and constructive relationships with animal welfare
organisations, such as the RSPCA, SSPCA, World Horse Welfare and Retraining of Racehorses, and works with these and other groups to understand and reduce ris


Horseracing’s welfare initiatives focus on the following:
• Care – those involved in horseracing have every incentive for horses to race to the
best of their ability, so wish to see them well cared for from before they enter racing,
throughout their careers in the sport and beyond. Breeders and the sales industry
have every interest in the welfare of horses. In training and on racecourses the horses are in the care of experienced horsemen and women whether licensed trainers, stable staff or jockeys.


Expert veterinary care is always available. Horses are reviewed before racing by one
of the Authority’s Veterinary Surgeons and medication controls ensure they do not
race under the effect of any drugs.

When a horse retires from racing there are many avenues open to them, and the
Industry supports and monitors the work of trainers and owners, and organisations
such as Retraining of Racehorses to assist with finding new homes and careers for horses.



• Surface – all courses are licensed annually by the Authority
and work with the Authority’s trained and experienced Inspectors of Courses and
independent agronomists to provide the best and safest racing surfaces, to minimise the risk of injury, and to encourage owners and trainers to run their horses.

Courses are limited in the use of their turf, and racing on hard ground is not
permitted in jump racing. Trainers also have every incentive to provide safe training
grounds and all recognise their duty of care to their horses.

The Authority provides specific annual reports and statistics on ground conditions
and casualties at every course, and inspects trainers’ facilities and provides advice to enable trainers to meet licensing criteria.

• Obstacles – All racecourse obstacles are designed in line with the
specifications of General Instructions, agreed in liaison with the Authority’s
 Inspectors of Courses, and both hurdles and fences are regularly renewed  and reviewed.

The BHA collates statistics of fallers and casualties from each race meeting, including Point to Points, and reports to racecourses to assist them in identifying and improving any individual
obstacles which may pose a problem. Racecourses invest substantially to improve horse safety.

To underpin these, and other, industry horse welfare initiatives and the Authority’s
regulation, horseracing provides assistance and support for numerous research
projects designed to improve racehorse welfare. This includes commercially funded
projects, and the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s veterinary programme which invests several million pounds every year in research projects to enhance horse health and welfare.



The Authority ensures personal confidentially and commercial competiveness is
respected to encourage reporting from participants and shares appropriate data with
participants, other racing authorities and research groups. More information is available on the BHA Website:

www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/about/whatwedo/Veterinary/default.asp




FURTHER FACTS RELIVENT
“The BHA veterinary officer Lynn Hillyer observed CAPE BLANCO coming off ther course and noted that he was three tenths lame on his left fore leg. (Near fore leg)




She felt it was clear that the lameness required further examination. CAPE BLANCO was noted to have bandages on his left fetlock (near fore fetlock) and the lad informed them that he had ‘bashed’ an ergot a few days earlier. The lad was asked to jog (trot) the colt for a few strides on grass. He obliged but the colt did not trot freely and was still lame. The vets assessed the lameness to be five tenths at the trot on soft grass.”






“HOURS LATER, AFTER THE LAST RACE, the vets undertook a further examination of the colt, who’s leg had, by this time, been cooled, and iced and bandaged. The colt was brought out and it was clear that the lameness had improved since mid afternoon, the colt being perhaps one tenth lame at the walk on the soft grass.”






“PAT KEATING was polite and apologised for not co-operating but made it clear he would not allow the colt to be trotted up without Aiden O’Brien’s permission . He asked Robert Earnshaw to speak directly to O’Brien, which he did. O’Brien informed Earnshaw of his view that it was ‘insane’ the vet should request the colt to be trotted up because, in his opinion, it would only aggravate the colts injury. Earnshaw explained the vet merely wished to ensure he was fit to travel.”






“The panel were informed that O’Brien had seen the colt on television after the race being trotted downhill and across a slope when lame. The colt had aggravated a pre-existing overreach during the race and O’Brien was concerned during the second examination that further trotting would risk opening the would unnecessarily . As to the refusal to attend the inquiry, explanations were provided as to the need to catch a plane and the uncertainty of air travel following the ASH CLOUD ERUPTION in Iceland.” (Which the whole country knew about, or should have known about)






“In respect of KEATING, the Panel has determined that no penalty is due. On both the occasions that KEATING refused to obey the stewards, he was acting under the direct instructions of O’Brien. The Panel recognised the difficult position in which Keating found himself.. As to O’Brien, he falls to be censored not only for his breaches in causing KEATING to refuse to comply with instructions given by the stewards, but also for acting in a manner prejudicial to the proper conduct of horseracing in Great Britain.”






“It would have taken KEATING a matter of ten minutes to attend before the stewards to explain his position. If necessary he could have made other arrangements to rendezvous at the airport with those transporting the horses. The ash cloud was not mentioned on the day..”

NO WAY CAN THESE BHA AUTHORITIES LAZY WORKING PRACTICES BE  ALLOWED TO  CONTINUE ON IN SUCH SHODDY WAYS. A DISGRACE.

 

END