KARACHI, Feb 9: Ever Smiling the five-year-old chestnut mare obliged her followers once again, striding to her fourth successive victory at the Winter Gymkhana Races held on Saturday afternoon at the Karachi Racecourse.

Partnered again by jockey Shahid Rasheed, Ever Smiling ended the pretensions of another mare Lover’s Life in the main event, collaring the front runner a furlong from home and never looking back won the race by a margin of eight-and-a-half lengths while clocking 1 minute 6 2/5 seconds over five furlongs with plenty to spare.

In the far distance was Superb Star and a further eight and half lengths away came Son Of None, backed for a song for a place chance by the punters.

Riaz Mohammad, who owns Son of None, chanced his luck again after being let off the hook last week. The horse was backed down to the hilt as a place chance.

When the race began, Riaz Mohammad was seen strangling his horse throughout the race never allowing the animal to run on merit. Riaz only let his mount move freely 100 yards from the winning post and that too after the first three runners passed the winning post.

This time the Stewards were not turning a blind eye. Riaz Mohammad was fined Rs20,000 and had his license revoked for six months.

Two events in a card of six were cancelled, adding more mayhem to the proceedings as these two races were first declared valid but later were cancelled by the stewards.

In the second event, Noor-un-Nisa the raging favourite never even figured on the board in a race won by Bach Fly, followed home by Atish Fishan, Chhotto and Smart Boy completing the frame.

As the race began, Segar Gift with Tariq Baran in the saddle fell as the chestnut horse jumped out of the gates. Noor-un-Nisa ridden by M. Mazhar in the path of the fallen animal also came down and so did Shining Rock (Najam Iqbal).

With the raging favourite out of the race the huge gathering raised a hue and cry when the race was declared valid. The Stewards had no alternative.

Then in the fourth race the favourite Just In Fun ridden by M. Mazhar, won the race by a distance from rank outsiders Ba Wafa, and Lawrence Of Arabia. But the well backed horses for place chances, Smiling Senorita, Small Wonder and Victory Princess decided to play truant.

This also angered the crowd and when the race was declared valid and things were really getting out of hand. Once again the Stewards had no alternative but to declare the race null and void.

The spoils in the opening race was picked up by Tanveer-e-Sehar with Kashif Ali astride, followed home by Royal Springs, Lucky Love and Whitney Houston.

Much Better with Raees Ahmed in the saddle, galloped to victory in the third event, after Wonderful Boy running a close second, stumbled and fell approaching the bend, also bringing down the rider M. Faiz in the path of the other runners following behind. Richy Rich came second followed home by Little Sunny and Look At Me.

In an exciting fifth race, Abdul Raza’s Dushtiani, ridden by jockey Ahmed, beat nearest rival Deniro by three lengths, along with Aziz Love and Satellite Star, after the four were all engaged in a running battle for supremacy when heads turned for home.

On the last three racing days the horses have been seen participating on a very heavy and uneven racing track. With the result many horses have been brought down during the races resulting in the deaths of many runners.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 17.

Following are the results:

NEW PLATE CLASS IX DIV G-IV 5F