IHRB accepts error in announcing Rule 4 deduction

The IHRB has accepted error in the late calling of a Rule 4 deduction from retrospectively withdrawn Dream On Baby in Galway’s 3.12pm BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle today, which has proven costly for betting purposes.

Confusion at the start of the 20-runner race saw Dream On Baby - an 8/1 chance, being hopelessly left behind and pulling up, and while an enquiry was called into the circumstances of the start, the result was allowed stand.

The placings were confirmed with the ‘winner alright’ call at 3.40pm but an announcement of the ‘retrospective withdrawal’ of Dream On Baby was delayed until 3.46pm.

Prominent bookmaker Colm White was irate and revealed “my problem was in the delay in calling the horse a non-runner. Instead of deducting 10 cent (%), we have now paid people out the full amount which has cost me 700 or 800 quid.

“Also there are many punters who backed Dream On Baby, but would have discarded their dockets in the six minutes gap.”

Confirming an error had occurred IHRB’s head of communications Niall Cronin stated “although the withdrawal of the horse was communicated on the IHRB X (formerly Twitter) account at 3.40pm, we do acknowledge there was a delay after the ‘winner alright’ have been given, before it was announced over the public address.

“IHBR senior management will internally review the reasons for the delay.”