Lightning in the area made the starting gate a potential danger, so course officials called for a flag start.
Whirl, by Wootton Basset, won easily. The ground was an absolute bog.
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The weather was of biblical proportions. That is a good filly
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Interesting! Here (in the U.S.) they would either cancel or postpone the race.
In Kentucky, any lightning in the area makes a track close–with everyone off immediately–for 1/2 hour whether during training or racing. You might wait the half hour, then if someone sees another speck of lightning, the wait time starts over.
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First time ever a Group race has been started by the flag. If the lightening/thunder had happened when the horses were still in the paddock it is likely the race would have been delayed but they were already on the way to the start and it is a straight track, not an oval. They were more than a mile from home. The flag was the fastest means to get them running and racing.
ETA in the interest of accuracy, the course isn’t totally straight. It is linear but not straightforward. There is an upward climb, a tight right turn and then down hill. The last 5 furlongs are very fast.
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That makes it even more interesting. Thank you for the explanation.
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