Don Kwesi loses Poorlittlerichgirl on the scales

Claiming rider Jaheim Anderson and the connections of DON KWESI, a four-year-old whose improvement at the back end of last season and current form make him, arguably, the most improved local-bred in training, will have a lot of explaining to do when they face the stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) this week.

DON KWESI yesterday treated 3-5 favourite RUN JULIE RUN and four other rivals with disdain, beating SENSATIONAL SOUL by 10 and a half lengths in the Poorlittlerichgirl Trophy. Making all the running over seven and a half furlongs, he registered what was initially believed to be his fourth win of the season and eighth from 19 career starts.

However, punters awaiting payment on their even-money win tickets were stunned when a stewards’ enquiry was announced following what appeared to be a cleanly run race. At no stage had the winner caused any interference that would normally warrant the officials’ intervention.

To the dismay of bettors, second-place finisher SENSATIONAL SOUL was awarded the race after DON KWESI was disqualified and placed out of the event for a breach of Rule 217 (2), with Anderson returning underweight.

The rider weighed in at 117lb after weighing out at 119lb, inclusive of his bodyweight and the equipment carried by his mount.

Rule 217 (2) of the JRC provides for automatic disqualification when a rider returns 0.5 kilograms (one pound) under the weight at which he weighed out.

Anderson’s return at two pounds underweight was a baffling development considering that his bodyweight remained constant at 47.0 kilograms, the equivalent of 104lb, both at weigh-out and weigh-in. This meant that two pounds of equipment, lead pieces placed in saddle pouches to add weight for lighter riders, were unaccounted for at weigh-in after being recorded at weigh-out.

Weight carried by horses is the bedrock of thoroughbred racing and is one of the main factors punters use to determine which horse to back, along with pedigree, choice of rider, preferred running style, race distance and fitness based on current form and exercise gallops.

In 2018, jockey Prince Holder was handed a 25-day suspension by the JRC stewards following the disqualification of his mount, LEEKOUT, which had comfortably won the 11th race on May 5.

Similar to Anderson, Holder weighed in one kilogram less than he had weighed out before the race. Holder returned to the winners’ enclosure weighing 54 kilograms, or 119 pounds, two pounds short of the original 55 kilograms, or 121 pounds.

However, unlike Anderson, Holder’s bodyweight at weigh-out was 49.5 kilograms, or 109 pounds, but he returned at 48 kilograms, or 107 pounds, on the scale at the winners’ enclosure.