Photo-finish farce at Sandown as wrong winner is called before result is changed

Confusion and chaos reigned following the first race at Sandown on Friday when judge Felix Wheeler called the wrong winner in a photo-finish to the 5f handicap.

Initially 13-2 chance Rio Ronaldo was called the winner by a nose, but upon closer examination 6-1 shot Vibrant Chords was instead judged to have passed the post first, with the result revised accordingly.

It is not the first time Wheeler has been at the centre of a photo-finish farce, with a race at Kempton in March subject to a reversalafter he had called the photo incorrectly.

While bookmakers were left seething following two payouts, the BHA insisted the new failsafe system, introduced at the start of week to prevent a repeat of the Kempton episode, had worked.

Wheeler's call of Rio Ronaldo was reviewed by the stipendiary stewards on duty at Sandown and they queried his decision, which led to Vibrant Chords being called the winner.

This process was conducted before the weighed-in announcement was made, which is when a result becomes official.

Felix Wheeler was at the centre of the incorrect callCredit: Getty Images

Commenting on the situation, BHA chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea said: "Clearly the priority is to ensure the result is called correctly first time round. However, a new system was put in place this week which ensures a verification check by the stewards of any photo-finish call that takes place. That procedure has identified that the initial result was not called correctly and therefore the stewards asked the judge to clarify his decision.

Watch a replay of the race here

"This resulted in the decision being amended prior to the 'weighed-in' being announced. The new procedure has therefore worked as intended.

"Under the revised procedure judges will continue to announce the result as they first see it, but then a verification check will take place before the result is made official. The 'weighed-in' announcement is the point at which a result is confirmed and at which point, under the rules of betting, bookmakers are obliged to pay out on the result, and not before.

"We appreciate there is a period whereby those connected with the horse who placed second will have thought they had won. This is not ideal and why we must focus on getting the result correct first time.

"However, ensuring the check takes place before the weighed-in ensures that the correct result is in place ahead of the result being made official."

'It's hard for us to digest yet another error by a judge'

Some bookmakers on course had paid out before the weighed-in notice, and a representative for bookmaker Sid Hooper said: "It's comical and bookmakers need more protection."

Gary Selby, representing another Tattersalls bookmaker, added: "I've just paid out £1,300 on Rio Ronaldo and now have to pay out again on the winner [Vibrant Chords].

"Straight after they went past the post it was evens each of two [on the betting exchanges], then right at end they went 2-5 Vibrant Chords. No sooner had that happened then Rio Ronaldo was announced as the winner."

Betfair Sportsbook, Betway, Sky Bet, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power were among firms who paid out on both results.

Paul Binfield, representing Paddy Power, said: "We love giving punters a bit of value, but a day after congratulating the BHA on their non-runner policy it’s hard for us to digest yet another error by a judge, which in the 21st century shouldn't be occurring and ultimately costs us money every time."

Simon Clare, on behalf of Ladbrokes and Coral, said: “The mistake made by the judge at Sandown today in calling the wrong horse the winner put us in a really awkward position, as that incorrect result was communicated across all channels to our Ladbrokes and Coral customers, including clearly those who backed Rio Ronaldo.

“Once the correction came through we took the decision to pay out on both results, which is clearly unattractive, but in the interests of keeping our customers happy we were effectively left with no choice given the situation we’d been presented with.”

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com