The unpredictability of horse racing can be brutal for fans and punters alike. The frustration of watching a horse being scratched or pulled up lame can be devastating, especially when it results in financial losses.

The fact that horses can pass veterinary checks only to be later deemed unfit raises questions about the effectiveness of the pre-race examination process. As the sport continues to captivate audiences, finding ways to minimise these uncertainties and ensure the welfare of the horses remains a pressing concern for the industry.

The investment of time and money, coupled with the emotional attachment to the horses, make the loss even more agonising.

For punters the outcome is often beyond their control.

Michael Suckoo, a seasoned punter with over 30 years of experience at Caymanas Park, knows the feeling all too well.

“I have seen it plenty of times. I have bet on horses and they failed to finish the race, I was devastated, I lost my money,” he said.

“How can a lame horse pass the vets around the back, pass the vets at the starting gates and running in a race? Sometimes it’s not just about money; it’s about principle. You trust the system, and then this happens,” Suckoo added, expressing his frustration and disappointment.

Dr Simone Johnally, a veterinarian with seven years of experience, including four and a half years with the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), explained the rigorous process of checking horses before they reach the gate.

“There [in the Saddle Barn and Parade Ring areas] we are looking for anything that could be deemed abnormal. We are looking for any swellings that we might notice; we are looking at how the horses are standing if they looked like they are sound or if they are weight bearing; we are looking at the behaviour of these horses as well; we are looking for anything that could clue us into something that could be off,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“For some instances of lameness may be exaggerated when weight is added and so this is one of our last opportunities to really inspect and ensure that we are putting out these horses to the track to the best of our knowledge in the best state possible,” Dr Johnally added.

She further explained the role of track veterinarians in ensuring the welfare of horses on the track.

“They are the point persons on the track as horses are walking to the gates, as they are entering the gates, and should anything happen on the track during the race. They are there to provide extra set of eyes to ensure soundness. So we do rely on our track veterinarian very much for ensuring the welfare of the horses on race day,” she said.

The last-minute scratches at the starting gates have also caused a lot of confusion for punters who place their exotic wagers — bets that involve multiple horses and/or multiple races, often with specific conditions or combinations. These bets can offer higher payouts than traditional win, place, or show bets, but they also come with higher risks.

This was evident on Saturday, July 5, 2025, when King Air and Muzzo were scratched at the starting gate due to lameness. Punters who had placed exotic bets, such as Reggae Six, Twilight Six, Ketch-9, Place-Pot 8, Pick Fives, Pick Fours, and Triples, were affected.

When the horses are scratched, punters who had placed their best on King Air and Muzzo were substituted with the off-time favourites. In King Air’s case, his last-minute scratching led to Rusty, the off-time favourite, winning the race. For punters who had bet on King Air in their exotic bets, Rusty became the default selection.

Where Muzzo was scratched at the gates, Heiroffire, the favourite, who was expected to win. But Heiroffire finished fourth instead, with Sir Ganja Jamura taking the top spot. Punters who had bet on Muzzo in their exotic wagers, only to have Heiroffire substituted, lost their bets.

While some bets were affected negatively, others were refunded. For instance, punters who had King Air and Muzzo in bets such as Exactas, Quinellas, Double Events, Tri-Fectas, Super-Fectas, and Hi-5s were given back their money.

“A number of things that could cause the horses to be scratched at the starting gates as we are not able to have our hands physically on these horses,” Dr Johnally said.

“It is a lot of horses that will be running on race days up to a 100 for 130 horses each day but what can happen is that a jockey as they comfortable in their seat and they are walking to the starting gates they may detect that something if off and want the veterinarians to check on that and at that point perhaps the horse may be removed from racing.

“Also injures can happen at the gates that may go undetected based on what the camera feed is providing to the public. We have injuries that happened in the gates while they are loading, the horse could also have an injury that occurred on the racetrack,” Dr Johnally affirmed.

Dr Simone Johnally (right), veterinarian at the Jamaica Racing Commission, checks in with trainer Gary Subratie and his charge Sensational Move on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)