There was embarrassment at Doncaster last Wednesday when the EBF Carrie Red Fillies Nursery was started over 100 yards short of its correct distance of six and a half furlongs.

The stewards, jockeys and trainers realised the error only when a reporter pointed out that the winner, Fly Gold Air, had beaten the track record by three and half seconds even after running into a severe head wind.

By that time it was too late to declare the race void.

It appears this was a simple case of human error and I believe the race should stand. However, it must not be allowed to happen again.

Madam Jones became the first horse since 1874 to win ten handicaps in a season.

Her trainer David Evans believes she will rewrite the history books further when she returns to the all-weather this autumn.

She turns out again at Catterick today carrying 10st 4lb. Good luck to her.

Today we have Mungo Park at Newmarket in a very competitive five-furlong handicap and Jeffrey Anotherred at Ayr, where he always runs well.

But unless the ground eases he'll have it all to do from a poor draw 17 of 17.

Ayr's big three-day meeting comes to an end today with the Ayr Gold Cup.

Always a difficult race to win, it appears you want to be drawn low to middle. I would take a chance with Ian Balding's Halmahera, who deserves a big race success, and don't rule out Tim Easterby's Guinea Hunter.

It was sad to hear of the death of Lord Carnarvon last week at the age of 77. Lord Carnarvon, the Queen's racing manager, who was an owner breeder himself, suffered a heart attack.

Column Published: 22/09/01