Golan Go backed from 20/1 into 8/1 for the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, and drawn on the rail in sixteen, was allowed to run after bursting out underneath his allotted stall, much to the annoyance of his trainer Paul Magnier.
Tim Carroll 's mount was placed on the far outside of the field after damaging his own stall and allowed compete when the race finally got underway three minutes late.
Magnier commented: "He was punch-drunk and not surprisingly left when the race got underway. I'm not blaming the vet or the starter as they only did their job but my horse was at a huge disadvantage. In the interest of racing there should have been an announcement made before the race that the horse was running for purse only as would be done in New York.
"From an integrity point of view the betting public is not protected. He actually broke the gate and he shouldn't have run."
The Enquiry sheet reads
The Stewards received a report from Turf Club Starter, Mr J.R Banahan that Golan Go, drawn 16, damaged his stall by bursting out the front prior to this race, was checked by the Veterinary Officer on duty at start and passed fit to race and a result was loaded into the outside stall (outside stall 1) for this race.
Mr Paul Magnier, trainer of Golan Go, subsequently requested a meeting with the Acting Stewards where the starting procedures were discussed, and both the Acting Stewards and Mr Magnier agreed that the starting procedures were followed correctly on this occasion. However, the Stewards decided to send a report on the matter onto the Chief Executive of the Turf Club for further consideration.
