IT is Epsom's proud boast that it hosts the fastest five furlongs in the world.

So how could the stewards allow the result of Monday's Tote Exacta Sprint to stand after some of the starting gates opened later than others?

The stewards deemed that although the race was a five furlong sprint and run in 54.75 seconds, and six of the 17 runners had a slow start, this did not affect the result. What rubbish.

As this race was the biggest betting event of the day, it looks as if the stewards were too scared to call it void.

You have to feel sorry for the punters who supported any of the six slow starters, including the heavily-backed 3-1 favourite The Trader.

Remember that the race was run in a time of 54.75 seconds - under 11 seconds a furlong so a split second is a lot of ground lost.

If ever a race should have been called void it was this one.

* It's encouraging to see that plans are in the pipeline to re-open Lanark racecourse.

Proposals include Flat meetings on turf, hurdle racing during the autumn and a floodlit all-weather track. At the moment, I would favour Newcastle gaining an all-weather circuit before Lanark, but it would be nice if turf racing could resume at the Scottish venue.

* I couldn't help noticing a letter in the times questioning the level of prize money at Cartmel.

Cartmel is a unique course offering a great day out but the correspondent made the point that the prize money added up to less than £22,000.

He put that in the context of a 23,000 attendance, generating an estimated £200,000-£250,000 in takings.

It's a fair point and one which again underlines the disgraceful state of prize money in this country.

A horse can win four races here and still not cover its training fees which is ridiculous.

In Ireland, the lowest grade handicaps are £8,000 or £9,000-added compared to maybe £3,000 or £4,000 in this country.

It needs sorting and it needs sorting quickly.

* Northern Echo finished fourth on ground just a bit tacky for him at Cartmel on Monday. He's improved from his first hurdle run and I hope he could improve again.