BOOKIES had to cough up £7MILLION when a race judge declared the wrong horse the winner.
Jane Stickels announced 9-4 favourite Welsh Dragon won the 4.30 at Lingfield yesterday.
But she dropped an almighty clanger — as 14-1 outsider Miss Dagger was actually first over the line.
Incredibly it was the FOURTH time the official — nicknamed Calamity Jane — has made the same mistake.
When she realised her mistake it was too late to change according to strict rules.
Channel 4 pundit Barry Dennis, also a bookie on the Surrey course, said
Stickels, 56, called the result after just 30 seconds, even though it
was a photo-finish.
She later changed her mind but the jockeys had weighed in — meaning the race result was official for betting purposes.
Barry raged: “This buffoon has cost the industry £7million. The real
winner was virtually unbacked but the horse we have to pay out on was a
hot favourite. I paid out over £6,000 on what turned out to be a loser.
Her eyesight can’t be trusted.” He says he will sue.
Stickels — a judge for 13 years — blundered at the same course and Newmarket in 1999 and at Kempton Park in 1994.
The Jockey Club has already given her a warning.
But John McCririck, also a Channel 4 pundit, said Stickels should be sacked.
He added: “This error is inexcusable. Pictures of our racing go worldwide. We’ll have been made to look a laughing stock.”
But some punters are smiling as several bookies agreed to pay out winnings on both horses.
The Jockey Club launched a new probe into the mistake.
