Page 7 - The Game August 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, August 2006 7
Jockey Todd Kabel looks at the tote board and sees the inquiry sign has been posted upon his return to the grandstand area after finishing first aboard Malakoff in the $500,000
Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie
on July 16.
Malakoff Connections to Appeal Prince of Wales Disqualification
When the Stronach Stable owned, Malakoff, crossed the finish line first by 1 1/2 lengths in the 71st running of the Prince of Wales Stakes, it was a short lived victory for the handsome chestnut colt.
Before jockey Todd Kabel had made his way back to the front of the grandstand with the talented son of Lemon Drop Kid who finished third in the Queen’s Plate, the stewards had posted the inquiry sign and the jockeys and trainers of three other horses in the race had also lodged complaints with the stewards.
After ten minutes of deliberation by the stewards, Malakoff was stripped of his win and disqualified to fifth position. It was a history making decision that would cost the connections not only emotionally but financially to
the tune of $285,000.
Fort Erie stewards Richard
Grubb, Gunnar Lindberg and Ivan McHutchion ruled that Malakoff had caused interference in the final furlong of the race.
Steward Gunner Lindberg was quoted in the Toronto Star as saying “The horse definitely came over and squeezed the three horses to his inside from the sixteenth pole to the finish. That caused the rail horse (Edenwold) to be forced out. Malakoff continued inwards and made Shillelagh Slew alter course. He (Malakoff) came over on them down the lane, plain and simple. It was the proper decision to make.”
Second place finisher, Shillelagh Slew was promoted to first with Pipers Thunder, Royal Challenger and Edenwold promoted to second through fourth respectively.
It was the first time in the history of the Prince of Wales that a horse had been dis- qualified after winning the race and there are many people, including the owner and jockey of Malakoff, who say that the horse should not have been taken down.
Owner Stronach Stable, Trainer Brian Lynch and jockey Todd Kabel have submitted separate appeals of the decision to the Ontario Racing Commission on the Wednesday following the July 16 race. The appeal is currently being processed with a formal hearing expected to be scheduled in the coming months.
The purse money for the Prince of Wales will not be distributed until the appeal has been decided.

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