‘I believe it’s a false start, this is all academic’: Goondiwindi’s bizarre blooper as horse not loaded for race start

There were bizarre and embarrassing scenes at Goondiwindi when a race was run and won even though a horse had not been loaded into the barriers.

Jockey Zoe Hunt on Governor General (top left) holds up her hand in bewilderment after the field is allowed to jump without her horse in the barriers. Top right: Hunt (circled) watches as the field is eased down after finishing the race, which was won by Basil's Bow (bottom right). Pictures: YouTube

Goondiwindi has always been known as the home of the Goondiwindi Grey, the iconic racehorse Gunsynd who boasted an incredible rags-to-riches story in the 1970s.

But now the rural Queensland town, 350km west-south-west of Brisbane, has a new but unwanted racing claim to fame.

It’s where a race was run and won without all horses being loaded.

There were bizarre and embarrassing scenes in the non-TAB meeting there last Saturday when the second race started before one of the runners had taken its place in the barriers.

Governor General and his jockey, apprentice Zoe Hunt, were milling around behind the barriers when the field suddenly took off without them.

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YouTube vision of the race is focused on Governor General behind the gates, before the ambulance takes off next to the field and the caller declares: “False start, false start, we’ve gone without one.

“I believe it is a false start.”

During the call the caller declared: “This is only academic, bookmakers punters rule a line, punters rule a line, a false start.”

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The $3 favourite Basil’s Bow crossed the line first in the 1400m affair while stewards’ launched a lengthy inquiry to determine what to do.

They ended up declaring it a race, but ordered Governor General as well as What A Weekend and Sense Of Humour be declared non-starters.

The stewards’ report read: “Declaration of correct weight was significantly delayed allowing stewards to ascertain how the start of the event had been effected when Governor General was not loaded into the barrier.

“After taking evidence from starter Mr I Henderson and all riders and trainers it was determined that Mr Henderson had erred by effecting the start when Governor General was still to be loaded into the barrier.

The stewards' report from the race start bungle at Goondiwindi.

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“After consideration of the matter stewards determined, with consideration to AR204, that in addition to Governor General, both What A Weekend and Sense Of Humour were to be declared non-starters having been encumbered as the start was effected when Governor General had not been loaded into the barrier.

“Upon the declaration of correct weight stewards ordered that all monies invested on Governor General, What A Weekend and Sense Of Humour to be refunded.”

The report also noted: “Additionally, Stewards admonished Mr Henderson and directed that he review his communication processes at the barrier, further, stewards intend to contact Goondiwindi Race Club to engage a review into their starting procedures more generally.”

To make matters worse, it’s understood Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander attended the Goondiwindi meeting.