BHA to conduct inquiry into Yarmouth events Chief executive Nick Rust has confirmed that the BHA will conduct a full and thorough inquiry into events that led to the wrong horse winning the opening race at Yarmouth on Thursday, but said the case appeared to be a "genuine mistake". He said: "We frequently hold inquires before races based on intelligence or betting information from the morning of the race. "On this occasion, there were no suggestions of unusual betting patterns and there was no reason to be concerned. "It appears to have been a genuine mistake, at this stage, although of course we have to complete our inquiries." Rust added: "We have procedures on a raceday to try and prevent and ensure that this doesn't happen. "For example, all horse are micro-chipped - they have been since 1999 - and they are checked into the racecourse stables when they arrive. They are checked against the microchip to ensure the identity of the horse and are then allocated a specific box in the racecourse stables. "Many of the runners are then checked. For instance if a horse is coming back a long time off or perhaps they've changed trainers, our veterinary team and our equine welfare and integrity officers have a number of checks to undertake. "The horses are then led out of the stables to go to the parade ring and it's the responsibility of a trainer to make sure the correct horse turns up in a race. "It is possible that the wrong horse can be brought into the parade ring. "There's a small risk of it - this is the first time it's happened in the 18 years that we've had micro-chipping and the various other procedures that we have. "We undertake a number of checks pre-race, in addition to the scan that happens in the racecourse stables. "The judge will physically check over the horses and in this case, they were both chestnut fillies and they would have looked appropriate to the description of the horse to the eye." Rust said the introduction of further technology to reduce the risk of mistaken identity has been discussed, but that it would "involve a seven-figure investment". Angry punters and bookmakers demanded to know why the 'winner' was not immediately disqualified, with the race declared void. But Rust told At The Races: "We have to complete our inquiries and examine evidence of videos and interview people again before we disqualify the horse, if all is as it seems. "We did not want to compound things on the day and we have to draw the line at some point. "The horse was tested, as is normal, within about half an hour of the race completing. "On the day we had some other incidents. Unfortunately we had a fatality in one of the subsequent races and the veterinary officer needed to deal with that. "The stewards needed to hold an inquiry between races, so it took a little bit of time to ensure all of the relevant people were together. "Obviously the weighed-in signal had been announced. We want to ensure we learn from this in terms of how quickly we can get an announcement out, and we will. "If all is at it seems, this horse will be disqualified, of course, and the (other) owners will receive their prize-money in due course."
