Stewards began Del Cap inquiry before jockey’s objection

5:39 PM ET

The Delaware Park board of stewards in its daily log to the Delaware Racing Commission for the races of last Saturday states that the stewards began an inquiry into the start of the Delaware Handicap prior to a jockey’s objection.

The public was not aware the stewards were conducting an inquiry into the start of the Grade 1 race because the inquiry light on the tote board was not illuminated and no announcement was made. When jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. returned aboard second-place finisher Paid Up Subscriber, he spoke with trainer Al Stall Jr. and then lodged an objection against the winner, I’m a Chatterbox, for interference at the start of the 1-1/4-mile race.

According to G. Jack Houghton Jr., the chief state steward at Delaware Park, the inquiry sign did not light due to a problem that sometimes occurs when the placing judges post numbers or the photo-finish sign at the same time the stewards light the inquiry sign. The photo-finish and inquiry signs occupy the same space on the infield tote board.

“The photo finish and inquiry signs use the same line running down to tote, and on occasion the photo-finish sign will override the inquiry sign,” Houghton said.

John Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Racing Commission, on Monday provided a 14-minute video that begins with the horses loading into the gate for the Delaware Handicap and continues until after the race is made official. It provides a timeline of what occurred following the race.

At approximately the 2:40 mark of the video, I’m a Chatterbox crosses the finish in front of Paid Up Subscriber to win the race. At the 6:15 point in the video, track announcer John Curran alerts the public that Santana has lodged an objection.

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