Panto season has come early in racing as November serves up a string of embarrassments for the sport

It’s always a bit of a jolt to read in the newspapers that Christmas is imminent. In racing, however, any reminder was rendered superfluous when the pantomime season started right on cue in early November.

It opened with those farcical scenes at Exeter, which were broadcast live by ITV Racing. Captain Teague ambled to the furlong pole before ambling back again in a £40,000 race. The fact that he walked over was made to look even more preposterous because he was required to raise a canter to claim the spoils.

You could almost hear viewers howling from their living-room sofas at what purported to be a horse race. “Oh no, it wasn’t,” said those who yearned for action. “Oh yes, it was,” chimed Captain Teague’s connections as they banked the winner’s cheque of £21,748. Nice work if you can get it.