Stewards ask for race starts change

Stewards will hold a meeting with Brisbane Racing Club officials to develop a consistent procedure for race starts In Queensland.

The move follows complaints from jockeys about the start of the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben on Saturday.

Chief steward Allan Reardon confirmed he would seek the meeting before the major carnival races in the next three weeks.

“When the jockeys on the three placegetters came back to weigh in they all said the Gold Edition start was messy,” Reardon said.

“They are not the types to usually make comments like that and are all very experienced. I have since spoken to just about every jockey in the race and they agreed about the start.”

Reardon said stewards had watched the race start before declaring correct weight after a complaint from Jim Byrne.

“The gates opened cleanly and no horse was disadvantaged,” Reardon said.

“But It was a scrappy start and we need to be more consistent.”

“I will be asking the BRC to use a practice where the starter says ready and then hits the button immediately.”