Sandown clerk responds after racegoers complain about parade ring delays

Racegoers who had been at Sandown's Brigadier Gerard meeting on Thursday evening took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the lateness of horses arriving into the parade ring, prompting clerk of the course Andrew Cooper to commit to addressing the matter before the track's next fixture on May 30.

One racegoer, under the username Sonic Lady, tweeted: "Saw some high quality-horses tonight – but not enough of them. Disgracefully late into the parade ring for the first four races, most runners not in before the jockeys and many did only one lap and straight out again. One race they rang the jockeys mount bell with only two runners in!"

Commentator Richard Hoiles also expressed his dissatisfaction and tweeted: "Withdraw the right to saddle in stables for those who do not appear in the paddock by the prescribed time. Took a group of sponsors to the paddock for the two-year-old race. Bell to mount rang with only two horses in. The horse should be front and centre of any race day."

Andrew Cooper: clerk of the course at Epsom and Sandown

Cooper, who is also clerk of the course at Epsom, tweeted on Friday: "I am very conscious that last night @SandownPark there were too many instances of runners arriving later than intended into the parade ring, to the detriment of the public in attendance. The privilege of saddling in the stables is the root cause."

Speaking to the Racing Post, Cooper added: "I don't think this issue is exclusive to Sandown. Historically, I think around ten years ago, you could seek permission from the stewards if a horse was particularly fractious to be saddled in the stable yard as opposed to the pre-parade ring.

"Perhaps five years ago it was changed whereby stable staff were granted automatic permission at certain tracks, depending on the geographical location of the stable yard."

Cooper believes the problem is more common on high-profile days and on the Flat as opposed to jumps, but also understands leeway must be given in cases where horses are behaving in a particularly challenging way.

Regal Reality: won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan MooreCredit: Mark Cranham

He said: "Every raceday there is a set timetable and at Sandown horses should be in the parade ring 15 minutes before the start of their race, with exceptions for certain circumstances.

"I'm sensing there is a reluctance for that prompt schedule to be adhered to."

Cooper and Rupert Arnold, the chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, both outlined their belief it is necessary for the public to see the horses beforehand.

Cooper said: "We all have a wider responsibility to the racing public to ensure the process goes smoothly. It's a team effort, we're in the entertainment business after all and the horses are the stars of the show."

Arnold commented: "We appreciate the need for horses to be seen by the public in the parade ring. We're in contact with Andrew Cooper and are consulting our members on the matter."

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