Wrong horse placed second

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 1

Wrong horse placed second

Those who coupled El Deuce with Wiki Wiki in the quinella at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting yesterday were lucky to receive a dividend of $16.80.

The judge, Mr Ray McCoubrey, mistakenly placed El Deuce second, a placing which should have gone to Forgetful, which he called in in fifth position.

It was not until some time after the race that the photo-finish print was posted for public inspection and doubts were expressed about the judge’s decision. Eventually an inquiry was opened and prints of the photo-finish were inspected.

Five races later it was decided that Mr McCoubrey had been negligent in not placing the horses in their correct order and he was fined $lOO.

Forgetful, driven and owned by Garry Shand, was entitled to the second stake of $540, an amount expected to be paid by the Ashburton club, which will have to pay the same amount to Trevor Husband, the owner-trainer of El Deuce, the horse officially placed second.

The official platings in the race were Wiki Wiki 1; El Deuce 2; Willie Duggan 3; Windfall 4; Forgetful 5. The correct finishing order was: Wiki Wiki 1; Forgetful 2; Willie Duggan 3; El Deuce 4; Windfall 5. The margins were half a length, a nose, half a head and half a head.

Mr McCoubrey had to contend with murky photofinish prints, adding to his difficulties on a day on which there were several close finishes.

Yesterday’s meeting was Mr McCoubrey’s last on the Ashburton course. “I have advised all clubs that I intend retiring at the end of this season,” he said.

Mr McCoubrey figured in another controversial decision at Addington last November, when he incorrectly placed True Point first instead of Tom Thumb.