RACING fans were left stunned after a blindfolded horse smashed through barriers in a chaotic false start at Windsor.
The apprentice handicap was declared void after Master Zack reared up with its blindfold still on while in the stalls.
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The remaining jockeys failed to pull up and ended up competing the course after Master Zack unseated its jockey at the very start.
The animal’s inability to see then led it to divert to the right and smash through two barriers.
But thankfully the Martin Dunne-trained horse avoided injury.
The race was declared void with one commentator saying: “They’re in trouble. They’re in trouble.
“There’s six of them there and one of them should have spotted it.”
Five jockeys have received ten-day bans after failing to pull up following the false start.
The recall man waved his flag and blew his whistle but he was ignored by the jockeys.
All but one claimed they did not see the flag or hear the whistle.
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Only two escaped a ban – Conor Whitely, who said he saw the flag and heared the whistle, and Ryan Kavanagh, who was riding Master Zack.
The stewards’ inquiry found the false start was ignored by Jack Dace, Taryn Langley, Jack Doughty, Alec Voikhansky and Tommie Jakes and they all received ten-day bans.
Fans were shocked by the incident with one saying: “Absolute shambles of a start.”
Another added: “What a joke.”
And a third wrote: “What I can’t understand is why the starter didn’t wave his flag to signal the down the track flag man to stop the race?
“It was quickly obvious there was a serious problem.”
Richard Westropp, the chief stipendiary steward, said on Sky Sports Racing: “What happened was the door on stall two [Beaumadier] flapped back as the start was activated, so on the basis of that the starter called a false start. His flag was raised as it should be.
“The recall man, stood right in the middle of the track, waved his flag and blew his whistle. The procedures were followed to a T.
“The jockeys told us in the inquiry that they did not see the recall flag or hear the whistle bar Mr Whiteley on Beaumadier, the horse that activated the false start in the first place.”
“Our guidance is if you have a false start and the race is completed then the race is voided.
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“Every jockey is entitled to appeal any suspension that’s given to them on the racecourse. There would be a separate hearing heard on a later date.
“Our footage is very clear with the recall man waving his flag in the middle of the track, hence we felt they should have pulled up.”
