Commentator deserted as chaotic horse racing sees runners take wrong course

At 11.20 a.m. at Fontainebleau, the Bruyeres Chase, two horses and jockeys took the wrong course. The 2m 3f contest was eventually won by Saint Pair, the 8-11 favorite

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One commentator joked it was “two races for one” as the runners bizarrely took the wrong course.

Ian Bartlett was abandoned during the Bruyeres chase at the Fontainebleau scenes. As the six horses reached a section of track, two of the jockeys led their horses to the right of it. The other four stayed together and tackled a smaller jump off the white rail.

“Oh, they went two different ways!” said Bartlett. “So we have two races here. Let’s hope a bunch soon finds out who went the wrong way. So paintball and Erik Le Viking are on the far left, taking a course. oh dear Saint Pair, Skinayan, Hyghliner Great are with Gazda Hope on the right. Fair play to the bunch that’s wrong because they’re adamant they’re wrong, aren’t they?

Paintball and Erik Le Viking took a total of four obstacles before railings came in that completely separated from the other runners. The larger group was shown approaching a groundsman who was on the course, which Bartlett believed was an indication of which horses were on the wrong side.

“For them to overcome the next obstacles, here are two races for one!” he laughed.

The two runners were then seen joining the rest of the pack in the rear division.

“They’re all merged into one group now, but they all keep their tickets because God only knows what the stewards make of it and what will ultimately win this race,” Bartlett added.

Despite the confusion, Friday’s race met market expectations for weather. Saint Pair, the 8-11 favorite, was the winner of Hyghliner Great, next on the market at 9-4. Erik Le Viking finished third but was disqualified with paintball by the stewards.