Re: Season 4 WEEK 11 Tuesday Races
Firstly I believe this issue maybe needs opening up in its own thread so more people see it.
There are a number of things that need to be considered here when a decision is made:
1. You have to apply the same consideration when making a decision about the outcome of these races regardless of their status. The GN was rerun when an error was spotted ... and almost certainly would have been rerun if spotted after transmission.
2. The impact the decision will make on championships, qualifier races and the handicap.
3. The integrity of the season and the league itself to apply the same rules and considerations at every level.
As I see it there are 3 possible decisions here, all with huge implications and plus and minus points.
1.
The results stand - this is the easiest decision but also the most unfair one on the trainers that didn't win. Sirius has openly stated that he does not think his horses would have won. I won one of the races in question and can not be sure mine would have won a fair race either.
2.
The races are declared void and erased from existence but not rerun - This is probably the second easiest option but in effect is even more unfair than 1, as this would impact 5 trainers per race with prize money placing etc. It would also result in almost 20% of the races not counting - which for the trainers impacted is more like 50% of their realistic targets. Making the week a right off or farce for some.
3.
The races are rerun - This is the best and only universally equal option but I guess is the hardest to implement as it will require time and effort. However, if we aren't going to do things properly then maybe it is best if we just don't bother. In my opinion if any one is interested this is the only option that has any credibility and is the only one that retains the integrity of the season.
If we were talking 7 races at Cheltenham last week all won by the top trainers then you can be 100% certain reruns would take place. I am happy to comm the reruns later if required. The same rules and considerations must be given to the lower end of the scale as they would be to the top or most of us may as well just give up.
Finally, mistakes can and will be made, it is how we learn from them that matters. I hope whoever made this error isn't feeling bad or that they are going to be singled out. I have seen the video about race running and would not want to take it on as it looks pretty fiddly and open to mistakes, especially if you have to do a lot. The race runners have had a difficult time this season as there aren't enough of them. Lets just make a the correct decision and move on ... swiftly and with style as someone once said