GERARD BUTLER launched a scathing attack on new starting stalls in use at Newbury on Saturday after his star filly Tarfah suffered serious injury prior to the off of the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes.

The filly, supplemented to the Group 1 race at a cost of £16,000, had to be withdrawn after she “freaked out” in the starting gate.

Butler blamed a low retaining bar at the rear of stalls manufactured by Australian firm Steriline, and was angered at the units in general.

“They're like tin cans held together with string,” stormed Butler. “They have less substance and strength than the old ones, and are louder.

“The filly freaked out and has cuts to her stifle and on her left side and right side, she could be out for two months.”

Butler, who trains Tarfah for Abdulla Al Khalifa, added: “It is border-line stupidity that it has taken till now to recognise there’s a problem. A stalls’ handler broke a leg recently and now this. Will it take someone to get killed?”

Some heated exchanges took place after the race and later it emerged that the rear bar is to be removed.

Brad Higgins, chief executive at RaceTech, which manages the stalls units, said: “As a matter of urgency we will import additional soundproofing material which was used to great success at the Guineas meeting.

“Just now we have decided we’ll be making adjustments to the rear gates.”

Earlier, trainers and jockeys had met officials from RaceTech, the Jockey Club and the Racecourse Association in a get-together designed to placate their anxiety.

Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the National Trainers' Federation, said: "The back bars on these new stalls are quite a bit lower.
They can cause horses to kick out, which then upsets others and causes a lot of noise. The whole thing escalates."

ENDS

 

Butler in philosophical mood over starting stalls 16/05/2005

by Paul Eacott and Rodney Masters 16/05/2005

GERARD BUTLER was in philosophical mood on Sunday as he revealed the extent of the injuries his star filly Tarfah sustained when she "freaked out" in the controversial new Australian starting stalls before the Juddmonte Locking Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

“Thank God she is okay – I’m just glad she came home in one piece,” said Butler on Sunday. “The filly is quite stiff this morning, having suffered cuts on the inside of her stifle, on her near-side shoulder and her near-hind leg - and she had quite a few stitches in all four legs.

“I’m worried the problems may be psychological so we’ll do some work with her in the stalls in a few weeks' time and, hopefully, the problems with the stalls will all be rectified by then.

“What’s done is done – it’s more important that something constructive will come out of this. It’s just a case of applying common sense”

The question over who will pick up the bill for engineering modifications promised by RaceTech’s Brad Higgins in the wake ofTarfah’s injuries was raised on Sunday by the Jockey Club.

At the same time, the Club's PR manager Paul Struthers expressed a mixture of “frustration and disappointment“ that problems have arisen despite exhaustive trials of the new equipment.

The Tarfah incident came less than two hours after trainers, concerned over previous mishaps caused by horses getting upset in the Steriline stalls, met at Newbury with representatives from Steriline, the Racecourse Association, the Jockey Club and RaceTech, which manages the stalls units.

It was agreed the lower bars on the tailgates should be removed, and the height adjusted of the running boards inside the stalls.

In addition, with trainers complaining about the level of noise generated by horses kicking out in the stalls, there will be a speeding up of the programme to inject soundproofing material into the hollow metalwork.

It is understood that in Australia the lower bars to the tailgates were welded on to the original design in 2001 in the interests of safety at the request of stalls handlers who had threatened to strike unless alterations were made.

Struthers outlined the Jockey Club's disappointment that the current problems were not identified and resolved by the original working party briefed to study the introduction of new stalls.

The group consisted of representatives from trainers, jockeys, owners, racecourses and the Jockey Club.

“We’re frustrated these problems have come to light despite such an extensive period of trials on the all-weather,” he said. "There’s also the issue over who will be responsible for paying for the modifications, because it’s not just a question of sawing off the tail bars and sanding down.”

ENDS