Judge at centre of photo-finish farce appeals against BHA dismissal

Racecourse judge Felix Wheeler is understood to be appealing against his dismissal by the BHA following the latest in a number of mistakes that led to a result having to be corrected.

Wheeler was stood down in July after calling the wrong winner to a photo-finish at the end of a 5f handicap at Sandown in which 13-2 chance Rio Ronaldo was named the winner by a nose, only for the outcome to be revised and 6-1 shot Vibrant Chords declared first past the post after further scrutiny. The confusion led to some bookmakers paying out on two winners.

It was not the first time Wheeler had been at the centre of a photo-finish farce, with a race at Kempton in March subject to a reversal five days after he had called the photo incorrectly.