Controversy over start of Navan sprint handicap The 80´s Night At Navan Handicap was the subject of a steward´s enquiry following a number of incidents surrounding the start of the race. Point Calimere burst through his stall a split-second before the starter pressed the release button. Three more stalls were then slightly slow to open. The white flag man, positioned in the centre of the track about a furlong in advance of the runners, kept his flag raised, but was not heeded by the riders. The starter was side-on to the stalls, did not see the incidents and therefore did not raise his flag to announce a false start. Following the steward´s enquiry the result was allowed to stand. Official Report of Enquiry follows: The Stewards enquired into the circumstances surrounding the start of this race where Mr Thomas Clifford the Advance Flagman appeared to signal a false start but all the runners completed the course. Evidence was heard from Mr. J.R. Banahan, Turf Club Starter, who was satisfied that a fair start had been affected and did not signal a false start. Evidence was also heard from Mr. Thomas Clifford, Advance Flagman who stated that he noticed that the horse in stall number one had become fractious and had broken the stall gate on leaving and he therefore took it upon himself to leave the white flag raised. P.J. Smullen rider spoke on behalf of all the riders who rode in this race. Having considered the evidence and viewed the videos the Stewards were satisfied that a fair start had been affected and left the result stand. Furthermore the Stewards referred the matter to the Chief Executive for further investigation.
