MY CALL: IT BEGGARS BELIEF HOW CARTWRIGHT AND MCDONALD CAN RECEIVE THE SAME PENALTY

By David Fowler | Tuesday, February 14, 2017

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

The overwhelming public opinion is that controversial Adelaide jockey Josh Cartwright "got off light" at yesterday's adjourned inquiry.

I agree with them.

Cartwright pleaded guilty to a reckless riding charge on January 14 when he purposely veered his mount into the path of two rivals with one of the two jockeys almost unseated.

Stewards suspended Cartwright's jockey licence for 18 months and his trainers licence for six months.

Several points can be drawn from this judgement.

How Cartwright's penalty is the same as that of James MacDonald for indirectly having an investment on a horse he won on is mind boggling.

Hang on. MacDonald was disqualified not suspended. Even beggars belief further.

Put it this way, one penalty must be hopelessly wrong because the two crimes bear no similarity.

Much has been made of Cartwrights circumstances and "fragile state of mind"

I'll pose a pretty obvious question. If Cartwright was in such a state of despair, why was he riding this day ?

If things were so bad, why didn't he stand himself down.

Stewards' chairman Johan Petzer stressed in his statement that Cartwright has expressed remorse.

Well he wouldn't bowl up to the panel and say "I'd be happy to do it again"

Of course he is going to express remorse !

Cartwright's apologists will say I should keep my mouth shut because I don't know the jockey and his circumstances.

And, yes, they would be 100 percent right.

But what I do know is that the majority of society is becoming sick and tired of perpetrators in our midst receiving more sympathy and excuses offered than their victims or potential victims.

Cartwright pleaded guilty to his deliberate actions. He offered no mitigating circumstances. It was there for all to see.

In the eyes of most, racing's police have adopted a "kindly and caring" stance to this shocking act.

*******************************************************************************************************

In stark contrast, Queensland apprentices Jed Hodge and Corey Bayliss received a "bum wrap" for their one month suspensions out of a Gold Coast race on February 4.

Stewards decreed they "went too fast" on their respective mounts.

Visually it may have looked that way but the first 800 metres was run in 46.7 seconds. Solid but not suicidal.

And both horses ran to their expectations. They weren't tailed off.

A little rash, maybe. Worthy of suspension, no.

*******************************************************************************************************

I treated last week's news that fields with less than seven runners can proceed with a degree of caution.

Racing Queensland surely must realise that money spent through prizemoney has to get a return through turnover.

And Blind Freddy can tell you that turnover on five or six horse fields is less than desirable.

One hopes that a five horse field doesn't get preference over dividing a race where there are say 25 to 30 entries.

Imagine a five horse field and then one later with 16 runners and eight emergencies !

Worth watching.

David Fowler