BROWNIE'S BLOG: STEWARDS ARE ON A HIDING TO NOTHING WITH ALMOST ANY PROTEST DECISION
By Damian Browne | Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Brownie’s Blog is the weekly personal blog of multiple Group 1 winning jockey Damian Browne. This week Brownie suggests that protests decision will never please everybody and he sides with Larry Cassidy's call for more drug testing of jockeys. This is Brownie's Blog … exclusive to HRO
People had different opinions on the outcome of the protest lodged in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick last Saturday … not least Glen Boss, the rider of Superium who was relegated to second place after crossing the line first, who labelled the decision a joke.
There was the same two-sides of the story response at Ipswich last Wednesday when the decision also went the way of the original second placed runner.
Isn’t that difference of opinion always the way.
There is very little chance of a protest decision ever satisfying everybody when you are talking about winning and losing. Personally, rightly or wrongly, I always think the stewards have a fairly good idea of what they are going to do just from watching the film.
There has always been a feeling in some quarters that the protest hearing doesn’t need to involve trainers or owners. Their observations are obviously coming from particular … some would say biased points of view … and therefore the value of their contribution is debatable.
I believe in America they even do it without the jockeys and it is all sorted out very quickly. I guess some decisions are more clear-cut than others … where it is fairly obvious … and then there are others where it could come close to a fifty-fifty call either way.
On those latter occasions what the jockeys involved have got to say may possibly give the stewards something extra to weigh up … but, then again, you get an experience jockey in there, like a Craig Williams who is a very good talker, up against a young relatively inexperienced apprentice having his first time in the steward’s room and it can become a lopsided, and therefore not entirely fair, contest.
I’ve obviously out of it now, but I think the stewards should just do it and get it over and done with so everybody can carry on. I very much doubt that many decisions would be any different if everyone was in there or if it was just left to the stewards. A few maybe … but not many.
I’ve never heard an owner, a trainer or a jockey say … oh yes, we caused the interference. We should have the race taken away from us. So, you really know where they are going to be coming from before they speak.
Only the jockey, who was in the saddle at the time, can really add anything of consequence beyond what stewards, or anybody else, can gauge from watching the video.
If you take those protested against and those making the protest … chances are they would just take up each other’s arguments if the roles were reversed.
I know it gets frustrating at times and I suppose Glen must have got frustrated at the way proceedings went on Saturday. I guess that comes in all the more when you think you are putting a good case across and its not being heard.
Every protest has to be judged on its merits. Almost everyone is different and everybody loves to have an opinion. It’s all part of the game.
As I said though, I wouldn’t be unhappy if it was just left to the stewards but the bottom line is that, whatever way protests are decided and whichever way they go, the stewards are probably on a hiding to nothing.
That has always been the way and probably always will be!
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The has been a call for more drug testing of jockeys … in other words, increasing the number of random drug tests that are currently being undertaken.
The only people who are going to be worried about more testing are people who have something to hide.
People have also mentioned greater penalties for these offences. To me, it would be important that aspect is weighed up on a case by case basis. You know, you might catch somebody using recreational drugs and you might catch somebody else who is taking a day and night tablet to get some sleep … someone who is fairly innocent.
I don’t think these people should get the same penalty as those who are doing recreational drugs.
Obviously, if you are turning up on a race-day under the influence of any drug it becomes a serious safety issue out on the track and that is clearly just not good enough.
Also, punters are investing money on the races. They should be able to do so in the knowledge that all jockeys are drug free.
I wouldn’t have minded being tested more regularly when I was riding. It wouldn’t have worried me.
So, I fully back up what Larry Cassidy says when he calls for more drug testing and I am certain that the large majority of jockeys would agree with that
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