Originally Posted by
Sofoulis
Yes - a misunderstanding between on-course vet, stewards and Darrell meant that Darrell, who was looking out for the welfare of his horses, gave his horses a drink of water with molasses (bought from stewards)... this was done after consultation with the vet and steward at stables only for the broader steward team to declare it as giving his horses an unfair advantage and therefore ordering his horses scratched.
I understand that in every other normal part of Australia, allowing your horses to drink before a race (with or without molasses) is permitted. Seems QLD stewards are of a different view.
Darrell had one of mine in today (now scratched) and I am glad he did what he did - I would much prefer my horse have a drink and be scratched rather than dehydrate... just wish the stewards could have some common sense (and trust their on-course vets) a little more...
We move on...