It is around 6:45 p.m. when the start of the last event of the program on the racecourse of Enghien (Val-d’Oise) is given. As the wings of the autostart fold up, only four competitors out of the fourteen starters set off and completed the course. For the other participants, the announcement of a false start seems to have been clear. “We heard the starter say: it’s not going to be fine gentlemen, tell several drivers. So we listened to him. »
The misunderstanding is total on the Plateau de Soisy where the majority of competitors wander on the ring where the autostart is parked outside, just after the finish post. Ultimately, I Love You Tek, associated with Tony Le Beller, crossed the post in the lead. At the same time on the track, the starter, François Dejean, is agitated and exchanges with several pilots. On their return to the scales, the four competitors who continued the race explain themselves. “In the first turn, we asked the following car (in which the marshals are) if we should stop, get annoyed Tony Le Beller, François Lecanu, Clément Duvaldestin and Jérémy Koubiche. They replied that they (the Commissioners) had no instructions. »
“How do we do now? »
Meanwhile, those aroundI Love You Tek pose for the photo of the winners. The marshals then arrive in the presentation circle to listen to the explanations of the professionals. “How do we do now? ” let go of the different entourages. To which Olivier De Seyssel, chief commissioner of the meeting, replies: “There was obviously a transmission problem between the starter and the commissioners. It is clear that the four horses that have completed their course cannot appeal. » The President, I Love You Tek, Ideal of the Biston et Iberian therefore remain in the boxes to the great dismay of those around them. “We are not at fault, and my horse raced for nothing”, plague Jérémy Koubiche, who claims, like the four others, the allocation of his classification. In this case, compensation could be granted to them. An argument in the negotiation which was advanced by the officials present in the ring of presentation.
On his return to the scales, the starter, François Dejean, was challenged by François Lecanu and Clément Duvaldestin. The exchange is sharp but very correct. “With my assistant, we reported the false start on the walkie-talkie, argues the starter. I do not understand why the commissioners did not have the information. Annoyed, the two pilots left with this explanation without knowing the culprit or culprits in the story. “It’s a scandal”, sighs, annoyed, François Lecanu.
Finally, the event will be held about thirty minutes late, without the four trotters, and the victory will go to I Love Josselyn, while the latter was out of the race during the first start. The misfortune of some is the happiness of others. It remains to be seen whether bettors will appreciate…