I had a fantastic day playing golf in Henley. The weather was beautiful and my golf was acceptable. We won the afternoon competition and I payed to my handicap in the morning. I had chances to make birdies but fluffed a shot at the vital moment, if not 2 shots! It didn't matter as I thoroughly enjoyed it and shall now put the clubs away for another year.
A routine day this morning for the horses before getting on with some topping this afternoon.
I have read a little about yesterdays fiasco regarding Paul Moloney and weighing in light. I have no doubt in my mind he could easily lose 1.5lbs in a race if not more. On a day as hot as yesterday it would be very easily done indeed. He also weighed out for the race in question prior to riding in the race beforehand. What I'd be much more interested in is whether or not other jockeys were weighing in over a 1lb light on such a hot day. I do feel for Peter Bowen and his jockey who by all accounts has been punished for a very similar incident. If Paul Moloney was the only jockey on the day to weigh in 1.5lbs light then it would seem strange that he was allowed to keep the race. When watching racing last year I saw jockeys taking on water before races down at the start. In fact, if I remember correctly I think it was Sam Waley Cohen before the Gold Cup. There are all sorts of reasons as to how it could have happen and most would seem very reasonable to me. Whether or not he should have kept the race or not I do not know. It makes the stewards and all other governing bodies look totally inadequate if they can't be consistent across the board. Especially as the Peter Bowen case was in exactly the same circumstances. That I am sure is what has put people's backs up more so than the fact that he kept the race.
When I used to ride a bit it was nothing to shed 5lbs of fluids on a run of 3 miles. I certainly never weighed in light, in fact I once weighed in heavy, 4 lbs I think. I had made the weight but decided to rehydrate after weighting out. It was a very expensive pint or 2 of water at Towcester that day as I think my fine was just short of 300 quid.
