Punter fury at ‘shambolic’ horse races where stalls malfunction leads to calamitous action from the off at Sligo

PUNTERS were left furious at these ‘shambolic’ horse races, where a stalls malfunction led to calamity from the off.

Bettors could not believe their eyes watching the action in Ireland on Tuesday night.

While the great and good enjoyed the sunshine at Royal Ascot, a problem with the stalls in Sligo meant they could not be used for the evening meet.

Normally in Flat racing, horses enter the stalls and the gates are opened all at the same time.

Flat races are the domain of sprinters, who generally have far shorter careers than those who compete over jumps.

Starting in the stalls is fair for all, but the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board confirmed before the first contest at Sligo that stalls would not be used.

A tweet read: “Due to a mechanical issue there will be no stalls in operations at @SligoRaces today.

“All races will be a flag start.”

Sure enough that led to carnage at the start of several races, with some horses being left well behind others.

In the 5.20pm race 11-2 shot Faraah started at least ten lengths behind the early front runner.

Jockey Cian MacRedmond did well to get the horse to finish fifth in the end given how much ground was lost at the start.

Then in the very next race poor 16-1 outsider Socratic was left miles behind after totally missing the start.

Punters were up in arms that the racing went ahead given some horses clearly lost all chance of winning at the very beginning.

One said: “These starts at Sligo tonight are an utter joke, no point in the draw whatsoever, not that the starter seems to care.”

Another commented: “Great comedy racing at Sligo with no stalls… no surprise really…”

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A fellow punter wrote: “How is that not a false start at Sligo ? People should be refunded on Manhattan Dandy, what a joke the Irish starter is.”

Another said: “More bulls**t racing at Sligo.”

One bettor posted online: “No stalls at Sligo. What a nightmare.”

A fellow punter said: “What an absolute joke no starting stalls at Sligo!”

Another viewer posted: “So after Down Royal earlier this month we now again had a stalls malfunction at Sligo today with flag starts again required. Isn’t this a bit of a shambles?”

While one posted simply: “Sligo is an absolute joke.”

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