What is a Stewards’ Enquiry?

As the name suggests, a stewards’ enquiry is an investigation into an incident, or incidents, occurring during a certain race and is held, if necessary, by racecourse stewards on the day of the race in question. Indeed, a stewards’ enquiry is usually conducted, and completed, in the interval between the race under scrutiny and the next race.

A stewards’ enquiry is led by a so-called ‘stipendiary’ steward, whose job it is to ensure that all races are run in accordance with the Rules of Racing, and its purpose is to review the race for any infractions, such as interference in the closing stages, which may or may not have affected the result, and riding offences, such as ‘improper’ or ‘careless’ riding.

The calling of a stewards’ enquiry is announced on the racecourse by the sounding of a klaxon and, thereafter, all the involved parties – that is, the stipendiary steward, two local stewards, other officials, jockeys, trainers and stable staff – convene in the stewards’ room to review video footage of the race in question. All parties have the opportunity to provide further information that may not be immediately apparent and the stewards subsequently make a joint decision on an appropriate course of action. Consequently, the placings in the race may remain unaltered, or be revised, and fines or suspensions may be imposed on the individuals concerned. In any case, the outcome of the stewards’ enquiry is clearly announced on the racecourse, followed by the ‘weighed in’ announcement.

Which is the oldest regulated horse race in the world?

It stands to reason that the oldest regulated horse race in the world should have originated in one of the oldest established centres for horse racing in the world. Doncaster Racecourse is not the oldest racecourse in the world – that distinction belongs to Chester Racecourse, established in 1539 – but a racecourse is shown in the vicinity of Doncaster, on Wheatley Moor, on a map dating from 1595.

The oldest regulated horse race is in the world, in fact, the Doncaster Cup, which was established, as the Doncaster Gold Cup, in 1766, a decade before the oldest British Classic, the St. Leger Stakes, also run at Doncaster Racecourse. Nowadays, the Doncaster Cup is a Group Two contest run over two miles and two furlongs and, along with the Gold Cup at Ascot and the Goodwood Cup, constitutes part of the so-called Stayers’ Triple Crown. However, the Doncaster Gold Cup was originally run over four miles, on Cantley Common, before being transferred to its current home, on Town Moor, ten years later.

Which English Classic is best for outsiders?

The five English Classic races are, from oldest to youngest, the St. Leger, Oaks, Derby, 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas. All five races have been in existence for over two centuries and each of them has thrown up its fair share of ‘shock’ winners, but none more so than Theodore who, in 1822, won the St. Leger at an eye-watering 200/1.

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, the St. Leger has also thrown up Encke at 25/1 in 2012 and Harbour Law at 22/1 in 2016. The fillies’ Classics, the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks, have also been won by two rank outsiders apiece, Homecoming Queen at 25/1 in 2012 and Billesdon Brook at 66/1 in 2018, in the case of the former, and Look Here at 33/1 in 2008 and Qualify at 50/1 in 2015, in the case of the latter. In recent years, though, the 2,000 Guineas has been the best English Classic for outsiders, producing Cockney Rebel at 25/1 in 2007, Mafki at 33/1 in 2010 and Night Of Thunder at 40/1 in 2014.

What is the most profitable type of bet?

Unexcitingly, but unequivocally, the most profitable type of bet for the punter or, conversely, the least profitable type of bet for the bookmaker, as far as horse racing is concerned is a single win bet, on just one horse in a race. A single win bet is the simplest, most straightforward bet of all. Unlike backing two or more horses in the same race, a.k.a. ‘Dutching’, or multiple betting, in the form of doubles, trebles and accumulators, a single win bet involves no wastage of stakes or winners going astray. A single win bet also affords control, at least, to the extent that control is possible, over the ebb and flow of the betting bank, which is an important consideration for anyone who takes betting on horses seriously. By contrast, an each-way, or ‘win and place’, bet requires double the outlay of a single win bet, with no guarantee of success. In addition, the place portion, while offering a theoretical ‘safety net’, is poor value because at standard place terms the place backer is trading under the true mathematical odds more often than not. Furthermore, each-way betting can lead to wishy-washy selections, rather than those based on clear-cut, hard evidence.

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