Special Albert takes vital spot in Miracle Mile

Special Albert takes vital spot in Mile

Harnesslink Admin 03:27 PM 16-Nov-2008 NZT

Local pacer Special Albert scored an upset win in the Newcastle Stevedorse Mile last night gaining a much sort after SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile invitation. Starting at 50/1 the track specialist which has not been beaten in all 13 starts at the Newcastle International Paceway withstood a protest, last against first, before being declared the winner.

The win and subsequent invitation was the first controversy for the 2008 Miracle Mile a racewith the established tradition of controversy.

Immediately after the race there were calls from punters for the stewards to invoke the‘relegation' rule however a protest was lodged which was subsequently dismissed.

Then with an invitation to the Miracle Mile firmly in the picture there were calls to deal with the driver of Special Albert, Michael Dawson.

Michael Dawson was charged and found guilty under the Rules of Harness Racing and was suspended for 28 days which takes in the Miracle Mile on November 28 and fined $2000.

Controversy will now prevail as to the choice of options that connections of horses not yet invited to the Miracle Mile will take.

The Cordina Chicken Farms Ladyship Mile & Sprint will be conducted next Friday night at Harold Park and there are still several genuine contenders in line for an invitation.

"As we witnessed at Newcastle once the mobile barrier releases the field all horses are in the race and we could easily have a similar situation next Friday" NSWHRC Chief Executive JohnDumesny said.

"The Directors do place weight on performances at Harold Park"

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Kris Caruana at 09:46 PM 17-Nov-2008 NZT

Well its time to end the farce of not having relegation.

For the ridiculously low sum of $2000 and 28 days for a driver who drives 4 days a month, he gets to hold onto a $60k race and also gets an invite to a $1/2 million dollar race as a result of kncoking over Fox Valley Appeal on the first turn. There simply is no dis-incentive NOT to bowl over another horse if you are going to gain an exceptional advantage - as Special Albert did.

If Special Albert didn't lead it couldn't win. Don't listen to the trainer who sais he is better with a sit - his last start he 'sat' he ran last in a field of 6 that was panels easier than this field.

Michael Beattie and his team of Stewards need to toughen up and don't feel scared to use the Relegation Rule.

What happened is Fox Valley Appeal - a $150k + purchase from the US, fell over and broke a leg and had to be put down due to driver recklessness? Ok maybe they give Dawson a year and fine him $5k but does that in any way, shape or form compensate the owner for losing a $150k horse, all its future potential earnings and the associated earnings for the trainer and driver?

By not using the Relegation Rule, who on earth is it helping?

Harness Racing will continue to be a joke if they don't start thinking that we should follow NZ and the US. It works perfectly over there. Why wouldn't it here?

Can anyone give me a good argument as to why Relegation should NOT be implemented?

norsch24 at 12:10 PM 18-Nov-2008 NZT

As much as i like Special Albert, I have to agree relegation should have been used. Unfortunately the Stewards here in NSW have decreed that there is no relegation rule. If ever there was an opportunity to use it, this was the time.
Once relegation was taken out of the picture however there was very little chance of a last v first protest being upheld, especially as in this case Fox Valley Appeal did sit on Special Alberts back and couldnt keep up down the straight.
However, had Special Albert had to sit outside Fox Valley Appeal, Iron Hudge probably wins.

What do you think?

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