Punt Drunk: Is a five-year suspension too long for a dacking?
The autumn racing carnivals are well and truly underway in Melbourne and Sydney, but the team at Punt Drunk has its attention drawn to several other regions.
From a trainer dacking a steward, to one of the sickest beats ever seen over in New Zealand, this week has had it all.
Former trainer cops five-year suspension
Now, when a current racing employee cops a five-year suspension, you usually expect drugs to be involved, or abuse of an animal.
That was not the case for former trainer Todd Balfour in South Australia.
The horse trainer has been issued a monster ban after pulling down the pants of an integrity official and exposing him to several people while he was trying to conduct a breathalyser test at a remote race meeting.
Balfour, who holds a stable employee and track rider licence, was disqualified for five years at a Racing South Australia inquiry last week.
Darren Weir was handed a four-year ban for using a ‘jigger’ on a horse, yet Balfour gets five for dacking a steward.
Is it wrong? Absolutely… but a five-year suspension seems overs to us.
The sickest beat of 2024…so far
It was a tumultuous turn of events for Revolt and his supporters at Otaki on Wednesday.
The Mike Breslin-trained gelding, initially priced at $6.50 but drifting out to $8.50 in betting, seemed poised to clinch victory in the 1300m opener before disaster struck just 50m from the finish.
Under the guidance of jockey Masahiro Hashizume, Revolt made a strong move from behind in the small field of five, positioning himself in a challenging position early in the straight.
Watch the incident here
Taking the lead within the final furlong, the son of War Decree appeared to have the race under control with a narrow advantage and approximately 100m left to run.
However, in an unexpected turn of events, Hashizume lost his grip and slipped from the saddle, leaving spectators puzzled as Revolt approached the finish line.
Just another way to do your dosh.
About Punt Drunk
Welcome to Punt Drunk – our weekly column covering all the latest horse racing and punting controversies, dramas and headline news. Have a story or gripe or issue that just grinds your gears? Just hit us up in the comments or contact us page and our jaded, punt hardened Punt Drunk staff will give it the Punt Drunk treatment it deserves. Don’t expect pleasantries or typical racing media fanboy gloss from Punt Drunk – we’re on the punt and we don’t have time to bullshit; the next is about to jump…
