Betfred will pay out

Bookmaker Fred Done, the principal owner of Chelmsford racecourse, will pay out the prize-money to winning connections of the void race on Thursday.

Soon after the stalls opened in the six-furlong event, the advanced flag operator mistakenly raised her ‘recall’ flag, meaning the riders should pull up, but the jockeys continued to race, with the Kevin Ryan-trained Nautical Haven passing the post in front.

As well as inquiring into the flag incident, the stewards investigated why the riders did not pull up as required, but having heard their evidence, and in light of the flag operator not following the correct procedures, the jockeys were found not in breach, although the race was voided, in accordance with British Horseracing Authority rules.

Some bookmakers paid out on the result, while Done, founder of Betfred, announced yesterday connections would not lose out on the £6,469 prize.

Done said: “It is the right thing to do. I’m not playing the blame game, I just felt the connections should not miss out on this occasion.”